Former Nova Scotia deputy premier and longtime Dartmouth South MLA Roland (Rollie) Thornhill died Thursday. He was 90.

Premier Tim Houston offered his condolences in a statement, noting that Thornhill was "a gifted debater, with a quick wit and booming voice."

Thornhill was born in Newfoundland in 1935. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and sons Jeff and Chris.

After serving as mayor of Dartmouth, he entered provincial politics in a career that spanned 1974 to 1993.

Cape Breton University political science professor Tom Urbaniak said Thornhill was a major political figure in the province for m…