Harlan Mitchell

Family-Placed Death Notice

MITCHELL, Harlan Mr. Harlan Erwin Mitchell, 87, of Dalton, a true man of the people, passed away Tuesday September 13, 2011 in Hamilton Medical Center. He was born August 17th, 1924 in Dalton Georgia, the second son of Douglas Wright and Mary Adelia Erwin Mitchell. He was married to his childhood sweetheart, Helen Jones Mitchell for 61 years until her death in 2004. He was predeceased by his parents, sister, Jane Mitchell Bramlett and brothers, Douglas Wright Mitchell, Jr. and John Chester Mitchell, MD of Augusta GA. He was a member of The First United Methodist Church of Dalton. Mr. Mitchell graduated from Dalton High School in 1941 at the age of 16. While at DHS he was a member of the varsity football and basketball team and had the highest 4 year academic average in the male class. He attended the Citadel, in Charleston SC, as a freshman and then transferred to the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. At age 18 he volunteered for flight training with the Army Air Corps. After serving overseas in the Pacific Theatre (Oahu, Guam, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines), he received a number of citations and battle ribbons including the Pacific Ribbon with 2 battle stars and the Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters. Mr. Mitchell engaged in combat, flying P-51's from Iwo Jima to Japan while escorting B-29's on bombing raids as well as participating in fighter strikes against air field, shipping, rail transportation and other strategic targets. Mr. Mitchell followed his father into the field of law, obtaining his law degree from the Lumpkin School of Law at the University of Georgia in June of 1948. In 1950, he was recalled by the Air Force during the Korean War and served for 17 months in Maine and Delaware. While still in service with the Air Force, Mr. Mitchell ran for Solicitor-General of the Cherokee Circuit and served a 4 year term. In 1956, he was elected the state's youngest Superior Court Judge, at age 32. He left the bench upon his election, by a landslide majority, to the US House of Representatives, GA 7th district, where he served 2 terms. While in Congress, he received the National Am-Vets Congressional Award for Legislative Service. HHe served on the Committee of Science and Astronautical, now known as the Space Committee, the Committee of Veteran Affairs, and was Chairman of the Special Judiciary Committee. In 1961, he took the unusual step of relinquishing his seat in Congress to run for the Georgia State Senate during the educational crisis of public school desegregation. Mr. Mitchell was a strong advocate for compliance with the Supreme Court ruling barring segregation and with keeping open our public schools. Upon completion of his term he returned to the practice of law with his father and brother, Doug, in the firm Mitchell & Mitchell, which was founded in the year of his birth. He embarked upon a legal career renowned by unparalleled accomplishments in case after case including many high profile trials. Leading his firm he was consumed by the practice of law, treating everyone, from the smallest case to the high profile with the same dedication and respect. He has served as City Attorney, and original Trustee of The Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, Director of the Dalton College Foundation, member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and President of the Dalton High Quarterback Club. Known as "Mr. Catamount," to scores of Dalton's young people, he hosted The Bill Chappell Show for over 10 years, a television program dedicated to DHS football. Rather than retiring, Mr. Mitchell continued his active interest on behalf of education by founding The Georgia Project, a non-profit organization devoted to helping public schools meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the extraordinary growth of the Latino population in NW Georgia. The founding of the Georgia Project was based on his knowledge that the increase in the Latino population is not transient but permanent and that the well being of these citizens is an integral part of the health of the community as a whole. For his achievement with The Georgia Project, he was recognized by a number of local, state, and national organizations, including The Citizen of the Year Award, National Association of for Bilingual Education (NABE), 2001 and the George I. Sanchez Memorial Award, NEA, 2001. Mr. Mitchell was an avid football fan, especially partial to his DHS Catamounts and Georgia Bulldogs, he enjoyed golf and tennis, the Democratic Party, family vacations at the King & Price, St. Simon's Island, and above all else his family. Erwin is survived by his children, Erwin and Mary Jo Mitchell of Marietta, GA., Marilyn Davidson of Atlanta, GA, Leslie and Steve Zeller of Dalton Ga; six grandchildren, Erwin Mitchell III, of Lookout Mountain, GA; Mary Lee and Max Waggerman of Marietta, GA, David Wright Mitchell of Dalton, GA, Delia Davidson of St Petersburg, FL, Leah and Peter Talmers of Chicago, IL, Elizabeth and Scott Mitchell of Dalton, GA; ten greatgrandchildren, Caroline, Anna Lee, Meg, Maddie, David Erwin, Mary Grace, Helen, Katherine, Lilly and Lynlee; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. William C. "Bill" Mitchell and Lucy Lane Lambert Mitchell of Winter Park, FL.; and his lifelong friend and secretary of 56 years, Allene Redwine of Dalton; nieces and nephews also survive. Memorial services will be Thursday at 3 P.M. at the Dalton First United Methodist Church with the Dr. Robin Lindsey officiating. The family will receive friends in the Atrium of the church Thursday from 1 to 3 P.M. Family request that flowers please be omitted and memorials may be made to Dalton First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 627, Dalton, GA. 30722-0627. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhome ga.com. Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton, GA. is in charge of arrangements.