BROOKS MITCHELL DRA board chairman

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Brooks Mitchell was due to step down from his two-year stint as chairman of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority board at the end of this month, and had already given his farewell speech to the group's full membership at their May meeting.

He's to be replaced by attorney Regina Jackson, who said Saturday she was already wondering how to fill his shoes there, but counted on having his advice.

The first batch of that came in his touching and inspiring address, telling DRA members that it took awhile to understand the group's importance and role, but soon after that knowledge was in hand, it would be time for them to move on, as he was doing.

“I think we left that meeting feeling that, while we were prepared to move on without him, it would certainly be a significant loss with his departure - not knowing it would be this kind of departure,” Jackson said.

Bowling Green's downtown redevelopment effort was one of Mitchell's great enthusiasms. Another was riding local roads on one of his motorcycles, accompanied by friends.

That's how the banking executive spent his last morning, on a trip to Elkton with fellow businessmen Cornelius Martin, Bill Leachman and Lloyd Ferguson.

Mitchell and Martin were killed Saturday morning when a truck hit them. Leachman was seriously injured.

Saturday night, Mitchell's Wakefield Street home filled with friends and business associates.

Among them was Harold Brantley, owner of Brantley Appraisal, who counted Mitchell as a business associate, fellow member of a literary club and close friend of 20 years.

“He was probably one of the most genuine and honest individuals that you would ever want to be associated with,” Brantley said. “Quite honestly, I just thought the world of Brooks. He was a true friend, and whatever he told you, you could take it to the bank.”

Few individuals' absence can leave a tremendous hole in communities, but both Mitchell and Martin did, he said.

Mitchell, 51, was born in Bowling Green but grew up in Brownsville. His full name was Alton Brooks Mitchell II.

He was a son of the late Alton Brooks Mitchell, and Eleanor Mitchell, who survives. Survivors also include his wife, Sharlene Mitchell; two daughters, Rachel Leigh Mitchell Ferguson and Caroline Mitchell; and his sister, Jane Weston.

He was a 1973 graduate of Edmonson County High School and a 1977 graduate of Murray State University.

He worked as a weatherman at WBKO-TV before entering banking, where he climbed from his start at United Southern Bank in Nashville through positions at Central Bank in Lexington and Central Bank of the South in Birmingham, Ala., to become president and CEO of Kentucky Trust Bank.

He then became county president of Independence Bank, which he helped bring to Bowling Green, and in 2005 became president and CEO of Hancock (County) Bank & Trust.

Among a long list of business, professional and community organizations, his resume includes past presidency of the Community Bankers Association of Kentucky and previous service on the Kentucky Bankers Association board of directors.

Tributes to Mitchell's friendliness, generosity, spirit of service and business acumen poured forth from many of the community leaders he counted as friends.

John Oldham, who served on the board of Kentucky Trust Bank while Mitchell was president, and enjoyed his friendship for 20 years.

Mitchell seemed to always be in a good mood, and laughed frequently, he said.

“He was a fantastic person to work with, and I considered him a very good friend,” Oldham said. “It's just a terribly disappointing loss to Bowling Green and the banking industry.”

Mitchell understood community needs as well as those of individuals, said Mary Cohron, president of Citizens First Bank. He could always be counted on to back community-boosting projects, she said.

“He was good at what he did,” Cohron said. “It was always a pleasure to work with Brooks. Brooks was a very dynamic personality. I think that's what made him so successful. Banking is all about people, and people's relationships.”

Cheryl Blaine, DRA executive director, worked closely with Mitchell for the past two years.

“One of the things that impressed me so much about this man was, when he came into this community, he gave,” she said.

When Mitchell was president of Kentucky Trust Bank, he met Blaine because he wanted to get involved in the just-beginning effort to revitalize downtown Bowling Green.

“Within a year, he volunteered to be on my board,” she said.

During Mitchell's years as board chairman, he stood beside her during some rough political times, Blaine said.

“He coached me, he encouraged me and he taught me,” she said.

Mitchell, always full of good advice, also possessed a rare common touch that allowed him to treat everyone as an equal, Blaine said.

“He made you feel welcome,” she said.

Mitchell expressed interest in the historic-home restoration projects Dorian and Elaine Walker had under way, and asked to see their plans - then immediately offered to help finance them through Kentucky Trust Bank, Dorian Walker said.

“I'll never forget the day I first met him,” he said. “We were at our house on State Street, and he walked up and knocked on the door. He introduced himself and said, ‘I want to be your banker.' We began as business acquaintances. From that moment on, we became very good friends.”

In his rare free time, Mitchell attended the Millennium Literary Club with Bowling Green Police Chief Bill Waltrip.

“We just had a meeting a couple of weeks ago, and had dinner with him,” Waltrip said. “I was looking forward to the next dinner with him, and now that won't happen. When you first hear it ... you think it can't be true. Even after realizing it is, you are still astonished.”

Gary West, former executive director of the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and an Independence Bank board member, recalls Mitchell as generous and courageous.

“Brooks was one never to shy away from anything,” he said. “He was one of the most stand-up guys I've ever known.”

Mary E. Carpenter, co-owner of The Carpenter Group, counted Mitchell as a client, but also as a friend.

He was devoted to restoring Bowling Green's downtown, and wanted to better his community, she said.

“Brooks was just a sweetheart of a guy who loved serving the community,” Carpenter said.

Insurance agent David Wiseman saw Brooks and his wife Sharlene at First Baptist Church, and got to know him and Martin through frequent motorcycle rides.

“They were both very kind and caring people, and loved to be out on a pretty day with their friends on their motorcycles,” Wiseman said.