499. On the passing of George Melton

Former Louisville Alderman and Metro Councilman George Melton passed away over the weekend. His obituary from the Louisville Courier-Journal is linked below. I knew George and his wife Bebe, who survives, along with a large family.

George was an old-fashioned politician, not a ward-heeler, which has a bad connotation, but a ward-healer, who worked in many ways for the betterment of his diverse South End Ward, the 7th, and later Council District, the 15th. His area was a combination of older neighborhoods, a few newer subdivisions, and quite a bit of public housing. George worked hard for all of them.

He could also be a very colorful old man in his speech. I recall one evening at the Board of Aldermen back in 1999, the night the Fairness Amendment was first passed which was also the night I was appointed to the old Louisville Sinking Fund, now known as the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Revenue Commission.

Forgetting for a moment he was at the Board of Aldermen and not the FOP Lodge, he began his speech, "Brothers and Sisters of the Lodge," and then went on to explain his vote. I last saw him about five years ago at a breakfast meeting he held at the American Village Housing Complex in support of Ken Herndon, who was a candidate for the 35th Senate District at the time.

George was a sincere man who believed everyone deserved an opportunity. He will be missed. Please keep his wife Bebe and their family in your thoughts and prayers.


http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=george-melton&pid=128759271