George Edgar West (October 9 1936 – June 25 2008) known as Buddy West was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Odessa Texas who was known for his staunch support of his hometown University of Texas of the Permian Basin. West served nearly sixteen years as state representative from District 81 which now encompasses Ector Andrews and Winkler counties a tenure longer than anyone else in the history of the district.