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 Shelbyville native and NFL legend Jim Mitchell during his playing days with the Atlanta Falcons. (T-G File Photo by Bo Melson) [Click to enlarge] |
He had celebrated his 60th birthday Friday.
A friend found Mitchell unconscious on the front steps of his home Saturday morning. He was taken to Bedford County Medical Center, where he died.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Feldhaus Memorial Chapel.
Mitchell played tight end for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969-79, being named to the Pro Bowl following the 1969 and 1972 seasons. Previously, he had starred for Shelbyville’s Harris High School and Prairie View A&M in Texas.
After retirement from the Falcons, he coached at Morehouse and Morris Brown colleges in Georgia before returning to Shelbyville, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Central High and Liberty School football teams.
Henry Cooley of Shelbyville has good memories of Mitchell’s days at Harris High in the early and mid-1960s.
“I remember watching him against Holloway (of Murfreesboro) in the annual Thanksgiving Day Classic one year,” Cooley, an expert on Harris High’s and Bedford County Training School’s football history, said. “He was the main man on the field.”
Mitchell was an all-around athlete, starring in basketball and baseball as well, Cooley said.
“He was a good-hearted person,” Cooley said. “He loved kids and hurt for them if they had problems.”
Part of Mitchell’s outreach to children and the community included football camps he held in Shelbyville since the mid-1970s. He was planning a camp for next year.
Mitchell suffered diabetes-related health problems in the past few years, which eventually took his eyesight.
I first learned that the Atlanta Falcons had a player from Shelbyville on its team from what I remember as a Bo Melson article in my T-G newspaper delivered to me in the Los Angeles area. He would be playing in the Pro Bowl game which was then playing every year in L. A. I was a season ticket holder and I believe the Pro Bowl was throw in, free. It never had more than 20,000 in the Coliseum in those days.
We sat adjacent to the tunnel, Rows 11, 12. So when Mitchell came out I yelled out his name. He looked up and I told him I was from Shelbyville. He acknowledged me with a big smile. After that, once a year he had to come to the Coliseum to play the L. A. Rams, and he always looked up to see if my family and I were still sitting above the tunnel. Finally, in 1978, the Rams' last year in L. A., Jim Mitchell asked us to meet him after the game outside the tunnel's entrance. We did. We talked awhile about the game (L.A. won again), and his future after football.
Before leaving that day Jim took pictures of us and reached in his bag and pulled out a still very sweaty game jersey and gave it to my daughter. For years she kept it put away, but somewhere along the way my son ended up with it. He has it framed and in his family room in Boise, Idaho. I called him the other night to let him know that the T-G had reported his death. He was saddened but proud to know that he has that jersey.
Jim seemed to me to be every bit the fine, kind person all the others writers say he was. That's a testament to the people of Shelbyville, my home town, and to Praire View College. I am so sorry he is gone.
I was surprised and saddened to hear of the passing of Pork Chop. He was a great personal friend to so many especially to me and my brother Joel. May your memories be a source of comfort. I will always think of him with fondness. My mother, Mrs. Alvirleen Scott, and my family send our sincerest sympathy to the family.
I met Jim Mitchell (Pork Chop) when I first participated in a benefit basketball game he sponsored in his town in 1971.
For over 30 years, I practiced what I learned from him. He had an infectious laugh and a sound character that did not change with prosperity or sickness.
May God be pleased with him,
Omar Aquil (Plum) and Family- Albany, GA
I met and played softball with Jim the first year he formed the Warehouse Gang. Jim could really hit that ball a long ways. He was a tremendous person to play with. He had a big heart and was a very caring person. Those were some of the best softball days of my life. I will always be greatful for the opportunity given to me by him. My sympathy goes out to his sons.
My heart felt sympathy goes out to the Mitchell family. I grew up with his son Damian in elementary school. I remember so clearly getting up on Saturday mornings after spending the night to go to camp for practice. Mr. Mitchell introduced me to the egg McMuffin at the age of 8 and I still eat them today. I believe he was the kindest big man I knew. He always loved softball and I thank him for all the knowledge he gave me over the years.
Damian and Davin, my prayers go out to you and my the lord keep you and your father.
Curtis Jackson Jr.
Jim was a great guy, so friendly to everyone despite all he had accomplished. And never before or since have I seen a man who could hit a softball harder or further. Everyone who knew Jim was better for it. RIP big man.
The Prairie View A&M University alumni family is proud of the life and accomplishments of Jim "Tennessee" Mitchell. Jim was the living example and proof of the PVAMU motto; "Prairie View Produces Productive People".
Jim would come to Murfreesbor to catch the bus to atlanta. He would come early a lot so we could talk football and just have good conversation. My heartfelt prayers go out to his family. Jim was a great man and I will miss him very much. I considered him a good friend even tho I only knew him for the past 3 or 4 years. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to know Jim. Rest in peace my friend.
Damion and Davin my heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with you in the passing of your father. Your Dad was a wonderful man and loved you unconditionally. Remembering all the laughs and great times you shard with your Dad will get you through this tremendous loss. May God bless and keep his arms around you.
I love you.
Beverly
Jim was a wonderful man. My prayers go out to his family. He will be greatly missed.
PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEART-FELT PRAYERS IN THE LOSS OF "A TRUE MAN". I MET "TENNESSEE" MY FIRST YEAR(1968) AT PV WHEN WE WERE BOTH RESIDENTS OF THE ATHLETIC DORM. HE ALWAYS HAD TIME TO SHARE AND I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE TIME HE GAVE ME A RIDE HOME TO BEAUMONT, TEXAS ON HIS WAY TO ATLANTA IN THE NEW "GRAND PRIX". SHELBYVILLE WAS THE TOPIC OF OUR DISCUSSION FROM THE "DUCK INN" TO BEAUMONT. HE WOULD ALWAYS COME BACK TO "THE HILL" IN THE OFF-SEASON TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCES AND TO PROVIDE MOTIVATION FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED IT - NO MATTER IF YOU WERE AN ATHLETE OR NOT - HE WAS THAT SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON - WHETHER HE WAS ALL-SWAC OR ALL- NFL. "WHAT YOU SAW WAS WHAT YOU GOT" - REST IN PEACE BIG DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Mitchell family. Even though I did not know Pork Chop personally, I always had a great deal of admiration for him both as a person and as an athlete. He always held Shelbyville and Bedford County up in a positive light.
Dear Mitchell family,
My heart is broken for you in the loss of Jim whom we affectionately knew as Pork Chop. He will be truly missed as he was a very valuable asset to our community. His contributions to our youth were invaluable and I vividly remember the football camps he would have there in Shelbyville.
We indeed have some very wonderful memories of his life, especially when he played football for the Harris High School Tigers, for the Prairie View Panthers, and for the Atlanta Falcons! We were so proud of our homeboy when he got drafted by the Falcons and bought that Grand Prix! I remember it well.
We stand with you and pray for and with you during this time of sorrow. May God's richest and best be yours during these coming days and beyond.
With warmest regards and sympathy,
Rev. John T. Flack III
My sympathy goes out to his family and friends. Coach Mitchell was a wonderful example and teacher for my son at the summer camp he sponsored in Shelbyville. He has some wonderful memories and really enjoyed the experience. Coach Mitchell will be missed.