Councilman “Mitch” Mitchell
Major General and Airline Captain (Retired)
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON
photos by TANYA LESHE’ PHOTOGRAPHY
Major General Harold L. “Mitch” Mitchell is a native of Beaufort County, born and raised in Paige Point, Sheldon, SC, to Rufus and Veronica Mitchell. “Mitch” is the sixth of nine children—four brothers and four sisters (Lauringle, Rufus Jr., Bernice, Luther, Clarence, Sylvia, Patricia, and Sandra). His father was a farmer and worked other jobs as necessary to support the family. Work on the farm was an all-hands-on-deck collective effort.
Mitch attended the segregated public schools of Beaufort County and graduated from Robert Smalls High School in 1968. He stated, “It was far more fun going to school than working on the farm, and we got recess too!” When not busy on the farm, he played marbles, rolled tires, and rode his bike with other children in the area. The distance of his high school from his home (20 miles) precluded his participation in any varsity sports. General Mitchell shared his dreams while plowing mules on his family’s farm of one day flying the jets that he saw flying overhead.
After graduation from high school, Mitch furthered his studies at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. It was there that he met his love, Ora Kelly of McCormick, SC. The two have three sons (Harold Jr., Kenneth, Kevin), and five healthy and beautiful grandchildren—three girls and two boys.
On May 14, 1972, Mitch was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His dream of flying a jet over his family farm came true in 1974 while on a flight to MCAS Beaufort for the occasion of his wife’s graduation from South Carolina State University. He deviated slightly from the flight plan for a 2,000 feet aerial view of his birthplace from the cockpit of his jet trainer. He served on active duty with the USMC from 1972 to 1978.
He then began his 30 plus years of commercial aviation. He accumulated over 26,000 hours and trained hundreds of pilots as a Federal Aviation Pilot Check Airman. He flew for two commercial airlines based out of Los Angeles International, Denver International, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports.
Missing the camaraderie of military life, Mitch Joined the Air Force Reserve in 1983 and was assigned to the 728 Airlift Squadron at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California. In 1990 his unit was reassigned to McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington. Mitch shared that he was blessed with a dual career—both military officer and commercial airline pilot.
As a military officer, he achieved the grade 0-8 and the rank of Major General. Significant assignments include Squadron Commander, McChord Air Force Base, Chief of Transportation, Fourth Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California, Vice Commander 446 Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Washington, Reserve Advisor to 15th Air Force Commander, Travis Air Force Base, California, Reserve advisor to 18th Air Force Commander, Scott Air Force Base, Commander—Joint Transportation Reserve Unit and Reserve Advisor to the Commander U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois and Deputy Inspector General, Headquarters USAF, The Pentagon, Washington D.C. Military Airplanes flown include trainers –T-34, T-2 Buckeye, TA-4 Skyhawk. Operational aircraft flown include the C-130, C-141, KC-135, and C-17.
On the civilian side, Airline Captain and FAA Pilot Check Airman Mitch Mitchell enjoyed a safe and successful career where he flew with two commercial carriers—Continental Airlines (1978-1983) and Alaska Airlines (1984-2014). Commercial airliners flown include the Boing 727, McDonald Douglas MD-80 and Boeing 737.
While in the Seattle, Washington area, community involvement included serving as a board member for the Museum of Flight and co-founding the Astronaut Michael P. Anderson Memorial Aerospace Program. This program leverages the legacy of Columbia Shuttle Astronaut Michael P. Anderson to inspire students to explore careers in Aerospace. Michael was an Air Force officer native of Spokane, Washington.
In October, General Mitchell will be honored with the Museum of Flight’s Pathfinder Award. The Pathfinder Award is the highest recognition awarded by the Museum. It recognizes individuals with ties to the Pacific Northwest who have made significant contributions to the development of the aerospace industry.
Major General “Mitch” retired from the United States Air Force on January 22, 2012. He then retired from Alaska Airlines in December 2014. Though he has retired from military service, he has continued
to use his voice and heart in community service.
Since returning home to Beaufort in 2015, Mitchell’s community activism have included:
– Board member @ Beaufort History Museum
– Planning Commissioner for District 1 (Sheldon Township) 2017–2020
– Penn Center Board of Trustees 2017 – 2020
– Hiram E. Mann Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to introduce students to aviation
In December 2019, Mitch decided to add his hat to the race for Beaufort City Council. In 2020 as community members formed protests locally, Mitch was a big supporter (Timothy Garvin & The Peaceful Protest of Beaufort). Mitch organized the March for Justice locally to bring awareness and attention to the systematic racism and injustices that many African Americans are subjected to. Mitch states he was “relieved at the response of the Beaufort community and how we came together during this troubled time.”
Mitch won his election to the City of Beaufort Council on November 3rd, 2020. He desires to continue serving his community locally, as he has served his country for many years. He puts the community’s needs at the forefront. Mitch understands “the most important resource we have are our people, and especially our children.”
