"My Grandfather is Don Draper"

Brian Mitchell

Know that TV show "Mad Men"? The one about ad executives and their lives set in the early 1960's that's supposed to be so spot-on when it comes to style, attitude, even set design and props?

Well my grandfather, one Mr. Joseph Russell Bankhead, Esq. lived it.

Joe resigned last week, after sixty some-odd years at KBOA/KTMO here in Kennett and at the William Tanner agency in Memphis. The local station honored him by having old clients and friends and partners call in and reminisce. It was great.

And much deserved.

Joe (my brother, sister, and I called him Joe for as long as we can remember) was to his grandkids the epidomy of class, elegance, humor, and intelligence. As many of you know, he was known for annually purchasing a new Cadillac (he bought his 50th this year!), but to us that was just a symptom of the gentleman-ness, the urban-ness of the man. Flashy? One could say. Problem with that? No one that even remotely knows him ever thought so. Elegant. And when paired with his bride, Katherine (yes, Riley Kat, your namesake), the flash and elegance and beauty were multiplied.

The guy has taste.

We lost "Nanny" twelve years ago, just months prior to my being introduced to Candy. It's one of my most profound regrets. Nanny would have helped me make the case that there was potential here. And they would have been fast friends.

I've waivered on whether or not to go here; but to me it's relevant. All you need to know about Joe is that after a tough divorce between his daughter--my mom--and son-in-law, he and his wife were, and he still is, extremely and intimately close friends with all of us. That was remarkably (to me) evident remarkably early in the process.

Got a few calls after the radio deal the other day asking about Joe's age. As his pharmacist, I'm required to keep that information confidential; and knowing him and his self-proclaimed vanity, I'll leave it up to him to answer those inquiries on a case-by-case basis. I'll give you a hint: It's not twice the number of Caddy's he's owned.

Not quite.

And there's the fishing. From all accounts, his annual "fishing" trips with son Jim, my brother Blake, and my dad, are extremely "not-to-be-missed" affairs. I've heard tales from all involved of late-night philosophy, early morning cookin on the stove, world problems solved, serious male-bonding, and......oh yeah! attempting to and actually catching FISH. Now THERE'S a number that Bankhead will be proud to tell you.

Congratulations Joe.... From a friend and a fan.

Brian K. Mitchell, an R.Ph., is the owner of Mitchell Pharmacy in Kennett.

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bmitchellrph

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