by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Mel Featherston was the kind of guy who helps make a community wholesome and stable. He passed away last week at the age of 94, one of the last of what has been called the Greatest Generation.

Mel liked to be considered a farmer, but he was more than that. He was above all a family man, a supporter of his church, shrewd businessman, public servant and military veteran. And, he approached it all with a keen sense of humor.

I first met Mel in the 1960s when he was a candidate for County Auditor. As a newspaper reporter, I got to know him well. It was a time of hardball politics in Hamilton County. I didn’t think Mel was interested in playing in that game, but he was not one to cave-in if pressured.

Eventually there was a showdown between Mel and Judge Ed New. As in other cases, New issued orders that his wishes be obeyed and the auditor’s office would provide a license plate for a former sheriff’s patrol car which would be used by a court probation officer. Mel got the plate, but reminded the judge that according to law, the car should not go on the road with sheriff’s colors and needed to be repainted.

The judge did not care to wait, and told Mel he wanted the plate or a contempt citation would be issued. Mel hid the plate behind a radiator and said no deal. He was jailed.

That brought wide attention from the news media. Mel conducted an impromptu press conference at the jail’s kitchen window which he approached with his usual sense of humor. He said he was a political prisoner and only hoped he could get out in time to teach his Sunday school class. He was soon released.

Unlike some today, Mel knew how to deal the news media. His opinions and office records were an open book. As a reporter, I appreciated that, and we had great relations. It was a time of informality, and as I look back, it is hard to imagine a public official’s wife now serving a birthday cake to a reporter as Nancy Featherston did on my 30th birthday.

After leaving the public arena, Mel went on to other business and civic endeavors almost too numerous to list, but he remained active until he was 90 or more. I can only say, Melvin Featherston was my kind of guy.