As the national media craft year-end rememberances of those who passed in 2009, it's worth mentioning three who transformed Spokane.

The three men who served in the top spot at Spokane City Hall stretching from 1963 until 1991 died in just the last five months.

Two of the three former city managers, F. Sylvin Fulwiler and Glen Yake, were heavily involved in the creation of Riverfront Park for Expo '74. Transforming the property into a park generated a few controversies, such as decision to tear down the Great Northern depot. But many still consider the project one of the city's biggest success stories.

The other, Terry Novak, pictured above, played a large role in the creation of the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and what is now the University District.