My longtime friend Wendell W. Mitchell passed away last month following an extended illness. Wendell’s life was characterized by a life of public service, having served the 30th District in the Alabama Senate for 28 years. He was devoted to higher education, having served Faulkner University as a board member, Law Professor and Dean of the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law.

Wendell was born in Montgomery, but grew up in Luverne. He received a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama. Wendell served as the Chief of Staff to both Alabama Congressman Tom Bevil and later to United States Senator Jim Allen. In 1974, Wendell won the State Senate seat for the 30th District and served his district with this slogan, “I’ll go with you or I’ll go for you.” He earned the nickname “Walking” Wendell for walking from Dothan to Montgomery during a race early in his political career.

As one of the most longstanding members of the Alabama Senate, Wendell served as the Deputy President Pro Tempore of the Senate from 2007-2010. During his legislative career, he chaired or served on almost every committee in the Senate, ending his career as the chairman of the standing committee on Governmental Affairs. Wendell was named “Legislator of the Year” by numerous organizations, and he was chosen six times by his peers to serve as Alabama’s chief spokesman in the Southern Legislative Conference and the Council of State Governments, two of the leading national legislative organizations.

Wendell was an active member of the Luverne Church of Christ and later, Vaughn Park Church of Christ where he served as a Sunday School teacher of the “Auditorium Class” for a number of years. The Crenshaw County native will be missed by his many friends. He was a good man and a true public servant.