Article: Gentle, direct and a champion for human rights cause; John Mitchell Sr., Golden Valley City Council's first black member, also was an engineer and Rotarian.(NEWS)(Obituary)

Byline: TIM HARLOW; STAFF WRITER

John Mitchell Sr. made it his mission to improve the lives of others, especially in Golden Valley, where he was highly respected for his commitment to service and honored for his leadership for human rights.

As the first black man to serve on the city's Human Rights Commission, he brought a calming but direct voice to the table as the Minneapolis suburb was beginning to grapple with race relations issues in the 1960s.

"He was able to bring a real-life perspective to the discussions," said Steve Swartz, former member of the commission and the City Council. "He was always gentle, always direct, and that style was ...

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