Wednesday morning as I drove up Highway 51 to work I could seeDoug Sullivan’s van still sitting at the side of the road. The tiretracks in the grass were evidence that an emergency situation hadcaused him to pull in to the ditch less than a mile from hishome.

I was already aware of the events of the morning and knew thatour community had lost a good friend.

I remember well when Doug and Karen Sullivan came to Brookhaven.In 1970, I was a sophomore at Brookhaven High School. He was thefootball coach and Karen taught English. I well remember his smile,gentleness and the respect we teenagers had for Coach and Mrs.Sullivan. They were a calming force for us students at a time whenthings were tense as the community worked out the effects of schooldesegregation.

Ten years later, in 1980, when Amy and I moved back toBrookhaven, Doug had by then had hung up his coach’s cap and openedSullivan’s Sporting Goods; he still had that smile and gentlenessas well as the respect of the community.

Over the years, I sat on many a church and civic committee withDoug. And despite the issue of the moment, he was always there withthat smile and gentle reassuring hand – ever the coach giving outadvice and gently guiding the situation to the area he thoughtbest.

When he decided to run for mayor, Brookhaven was in a difficultsituation. There was little unity at city hall, the countysupervisors were at odds with the board of aldermen and little wasgetting done. Racial tension was a bit high following a disputeover school hirings a few years earlier.

Mayor Sullivan slowly but methodically brought everyone backtogether. With that smile and bulldogged determination of a coach,he set the stage for city and county unity that remains today. Hisefforts re-ignited the community development efforts that broughtnew retail and industrial jobs to the area. He succeeded inreunifying the black and white communities.

I remember one particular meeting, where Doug was under greatpressure. As I sat across from him at a table I watched his handshake as he was holding a cup of coffee. I was worried about him. Iasked him how he was doing – that smile appeared and he commented,”Everything is going to be OK.”

Doug loved Brookhaven and Lincoln County. It was his adoptedhome where he raised his family. He put everything he had intomaking this area better for everyone. Not that everyone alwaysagreed with him but one thing everyone always knew was that hisgoals were simple – whatever it took to make Brookhaven and LincolnCounty better.

After an ill-fated attempt to run for Congress, Doug settledinto what he always said was the best job he ever had working forthe best person he ever worked for – U.S. Sen Thad Cochran. As thestate office director for the senator, Doug traveled across thestate with that smile and gentleness now trying to do what was bestfor Mississippi.

On Wednesday, he was on his way to Jackson for an early morningmeeting, but unfortunately his heart just gave out.

As I looked at his vehicle that morning, I remembered that smileas well as that chuckle he always had when he found somethinghumorous. I thought about his gentle reassuring ways and hiscomment during that meeting years ago: “Everything is going to beOK.”

It was and it will be.

Thanks, Doug.

Write to Bill Jacobs at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven MS 39602,or send e-mail to bjacobs@dailyleader.com.