Michael Copeland, longtime mayor of Olathe, dies at 58

Longtime Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland died Wednesday, according to the city.

He was 58.

OLATHE SINCE 19-93...AFTER 27 YEARS INOFFICE, LONG-TIMEOLATHE MAYOR MICHAELCOPELAND HAS DIED.TONIGHT --41 ACTIONNEWS REPORTER SARAHPLAKE SHARES THELEGACY COPELANDLEAVES BEHIND.The city of Olathe is not thesame as it was 20 years ago..and the people who workedclosely with Mayor MichaelCopeland say it's because ofhis leadership.The city is mourning the lossof Mayor Mike Copeland..

Whopassed away Wednesdaynight.You won't find anyone who'sbeen more passionate andmore of a cheerleader for thiscommunity.Mayor Copeland waspassionate about children'scauses..He continued his Read WithMayor Mike program virtuallywith kids learning from homethis year.Mayor Copeland was involvedwith KVC Kansas and raisedONE-AND-A-HALF milliondollars OVERALL with hisChristmas Tree Fund for kids'charities.People want to move here,they want to open theirbusinesses because of thequality of life in schools, andall of those fit together.Olathe's school DISTRICTsuperintendent says themayor wasn't involved with theschool district for politicalgain, but because he trulyloved it.Everybody did know themayor and felt like he wastheir friend so i know it's hadareal ripple effect across ourdistrict today.Mayor Copeland supportedlarge projects like Garmin andBass Pro Shops..

But alsosaw the city welcome thegrowth of small business.

Hehelped create 18 new parksand 29 miles of trails.From the railroad gradeseparation to the newcommunity center, to LakeOlathe Park to this buildingnow at city hall.

You've seennearly 50,000 people comeand choose to live in Olathethat didnt before during Mike'sleadership.

That speaksvolumes.Mayor Copeland leavesbehind a wife and threechildren.Mayor Pro Tem John Bacon, afriend of 40 years, was swornin this afternoon as the newmayor.A city spokesperson did notannounce a cause of death atthis time.Sarah Plake 41 action news.KANSAS CITY MAYORQUINTON LUCASRELEASED A STATEMENTTHAT READS IN PART:"MICHAEL WAS A KIND,INTELLIGENT, GENEROUS,AND AFFABLE MAN, WHODEDICATED HIS LIFE TO HISFAMILY, HIS FRIENDS, ANDHIS COMMUNITY."FRANK WHITE ANDSENATOR PAT ROBERTSALSO EXPRESSED THEIRCONDOL