VINTON, Virginia (WDBJ/Gray News) – A construction worker died and another was injured in a fall at Virginia Tech last Wednesday, according to the university.

The two men were working on a wind tunnel renovation project on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus when the scaffolding gave way.

Family members of James “Bo” Pugh, the man who died, said he fell nearly 40 feet.

The university released a statement saying, “Virginia Tech extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased worker. »

Over the years, Pugh became a regular at the Dogwood Restaurant in Vinton. The owners said he came to eat several times a week for almost 15 years.

They said they didn’t know what to do with an empty seat where such a joyful and kind spirit sat all these years.

“I just saw him on Monday. We talked about going hunting in two weeks… now, hearing the sad news, I’m about to cry. He was a good friend, a good man. A lovely man, he always came here,” said one of the owners, Raymond.

Family members say he was an excellent and loving father, son, brother and friend.

While Pugh will forever hold a special place in their hearts, it will also soon have a special place on the Dogwood menu.

“We will invent something for him. Yeah, “Le Bo”. I have to have some Cajun home fries to go with it. We make our own Cajun seasoning, and he loved it on everything,” said owners Raymond and Keith.

The name and condition of the injured construction worker have not been released.

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