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Former mayor remembered as man who loved community
Published 9/16/2009 in Local News
By STEPHANIE FARLEY
Mitch Messerly wasn't out to change the world in his community of Sublette and Haskell County.
Serving the city for about 12 years as a Sublette City councilman and then as mayor, Messerly saw the city through a lot of projects and issues, some everyday city dealings and others more major, according to Sublette City Clerk Jeannie Trigg.
"He just literally supported it," she said of Messerly and the city. "He was just a man with integrity who supported the system as it was."
"Mitch was not a man to come in and change the world. He wasn't a man to change the system," she said.
Messerly, 51, died Monday from injuries sustained in a car wreck in Finney County. He served as Sublette mayor from July 2002 to May of this year. He sat on the Sublette City Council from May 1997 to July 2002.
Messerly not only served as Trigg's boss when he was mayor and a councilman, he also was a close friend. She said Messerly didn't agree with everything she did, and sometimes, he could think of another angle or approach he would've taken. Still, "he supported and stood behind me on everything I did," she said.
Even when he opted not to run for reelection as mayor, Messerly still came by the city office every day just to see what was happening for the day, Trigg said. He'd go through the daily mail.
Messerly was born and raised in Haskell County. His father, Robert, farmed and his mother, Joyce, worked in the Haskell County abstract office. Messerly left for four years to attend Fort Hays State University and returned to the family farm after graduating in 1980. And Trigg believes the community was sort of in his blood. He cared about the people, she said, explaining his years of service to the city show that.
He was extremely supportive of and involved in the city, as well as the Sublette school district, which his son, Paul, attended and daughter, Anna, still attends.
Trigg said Messerly also didn't like confrontation and wanted everyone to try and get along.
"He was the foundation that tried to make everything stronger," she said.
Sublette Mayor Rick Redd believes Messerly brought stability to the community.
Redd, as well as Messerly, attended school in Sublette while growing up. Redd is about four years older than Messerly, but as they both got older, the age difference seemed to shrink a bit, Redd said.
Redd and Messerly grew closer as friends — they both farmed. So when Messerly stepped up as mayor from the council in 2002, the council appointed Redd to fill the spot Messerly left vacant on the council. Messerly encouraged Redd to run for mayor when he decided not to run earlier this year.
Redd took Messerly's advice and won.
On Tuesday, Redd said it was hard to pin one specific memory down, or to sum up the friend he'd known for so many years.
"Mitch truly loved his community," Redd said, adding Messerly was proud to serve on the council, and he looked out for people. "He had a very good heart."
"This was his home, and he wanted to take pride in it," Redd said.
"He was someone that I could sit down and talk to on a personal level," Redd said, also describing Messerly as a friend who'd be there to help if Redd ever got in a bind or had trouble. He'd also lend a hand to those he didn't know, as well, if he knew they were in trouble, Redd said.
"I've lost a good friend, a good neighbor and someone I could trust," Redd said.
Redd said he felt Messerly tried to keep "everything on an even keel" for the city — sort of a calming effect.
"The city has lost a great friend and a great leader," Redd said. "And we will miss him."
Haskell County Commissioner Gene Ochs grew up with Messerly's father and uncles — they all were farm families, and Ochs has known Messerly since he was born. When Messerly's father died, he and Ochs grew closer and developed a stronger friendship. Ochs and Messerly had a farming partnership for several years.
"I went to his wedding," Ochs said, adding they stayed friends through the years.
Ochs described Messerly as a family man, good farmer, good neighbor and active in his community and church, Sublette Southern Baptist Church. Ochs said Messerly learned from watching his father be active in community affairs.
"I don't know how you describe a friend ...," Ochs said. "A good friend. A great loss to me."
Ochs said Messerly's son came home this past weekend for no particular reason other than to visit. The family and Ochs went out to dinner Saturday night and had a good time.
"We will miss him," Ochs said.
Sublette USD 374 is out of school Friday to allow students to attend the 10:30 a.m. funeral in Sublette High School's gym.
Messerly also is survived by his wife, Beverly.
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what connection does this have to southern baptist?
Posted by: Denise Moore on 9/30/2009
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