The City of Albuquerque has renamed Fire Station 7 in honor of late city councilman Ken Sanchez, who passed last year.

Sanchez, the longest-serving member the Albuquerque City Council, was an advocate for the West Side, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Mayor Tim Keller praised Sanchez on social media the day after leading a ceremony at the station. 

"Yesterday, we renamed @abqfire Station 7 as Ken Sanchez Fire Station," Keller tweeted. "Ken loved this city. He changed it for the better through decades of hard work; he changed all of us who knew him through his unfaltering kindness and honest guidance."

Sanchez died at the age of 63 after a medical emergency last November, the Albuquerque Journal reported. While it was originally reported that Sanchez was expected to make a full recovery, he was never able to return to City Hall. 

Council President Klarissa Peña said Sanchez was not only a pillar of the community but also a generous supporter of many and a mentor, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Sanchez, a Democrat, first was elected to office in 2005 and had served three terms as the council president. During his time, Sanchez helped a number of infrastructure projects including Fire Station No. 7, the Patrick J. Baca Library and the West Mesa Aquatic Center, according to the Albuquerque Journal. 

Sanchez also served as a Bernalillo County Commissioner from 1995 until 2002.