Tom Hayden, chairman of the Clear Creek County Commission, died in his home Monday morning, officials say.
He was 60.
The county says emergency responders were called to try to save Hayden, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Hayden was a longtime resident of Clear Creek County with deep family roots tracing back to John Evans, the second territorial governor of Colorado, according to a county news release.
“Clear Creek County mourns the loss of this great man,” commissioners Phil Buckland and Tim Mauck said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Commissioner Hayden and his family. Tom loved Clear Creek County and served our community and state with great passion.”
At the time of his death, Hayden was working hard with his fellow commissioners of the massive Henderson Mine near Empire.
In November, he helped counsel elected leaders from Silverton and San Juan County on their decision whether to embrace a Superfund designation to clean up their leaching, abandoned mines.
Authorities have not said what caused Hayden’s death.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
