There's one thing roasters will not be able to say tonight — Hubert "Huck" E. Little's contributions have had little effect on the town of Portsmouth. 

The former state senator, state representative and Portsmouth Town Council president has been involved in a number of large-scale projects — from the establishment of the Portsmouth Multi Purpose Senior Center to the acquisition of Glen Farm.  

"Those are some of the larger projects I'm most proud of," Little said inside his longstanding business, the Lil' Bear Pub in Tiverton. 

The 77-year-old Portsmouth resident will be honored for his nearly five decades of public service with a special tribute tonight. 

Little, who once represented Portsmouth and Middletown in the General Assembly, says he's not worried about what roasters will say, but curious. 

"It should be interesting," he said. "... There will be children in the audience so I'm sure they'll keep that in mind." 

Little was first elected to the Portsmouth Town Council in 1966, when Portsmouth's population was only 5,300, he said. The population has increased 220 percent since his first elected office more than 40 years ago. 

The Air Force veteran and painting contractor would serve (non-consecutively) 30 years on the Portsmouth Town Council, including two terms as president and two terms as vice president. 

He first left the council in 1970, when he was elected senator, but only served one term before returning to local office.

He wasn't always elected to office, either. In 1986, Little was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the late Ernest Platt.

Little would continue on the council until 1992, when he was elected state representative for District 96, a seat he won two more times before returning to Portsmouth politics. 

Little also served with the Portsmouth Water and Fire District, as well as a number of local boards. He returned to and served on the town council until the 2010 election, when he decided to not run again.

Little keeps himself busy these days operating his Tiverton small business. 

After owning his own painting business, Little decided to open the Lil' Bear Pub in 1982. He owned the popular pub with the wooden bear out front until 2007, when he sold the business. He purchased the pub back in 2009 after some payment disputes, according to Little, and has now renovated the restaurant and pub.

Tonight's tribute, hosted by the Portsmouth Republican Town Committee, will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Johnny's Atlantic Beach Club, 55 Purgatory Road, Middletown.

Tickets are $50 and will be available for purchase tonight at the door. The public is welcome to attend and "roast" Huck!