(Updated to include comments from House speaker, governor, Kansas City mayor, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran)
Longtime Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, who was the administrator of the Heartland Region for the General Services Administration, died Wednesday night. He was 58.
Known affectionately as “Mayor Mike,” Copeland had served as Olathe’s mayor since 2001 after he was first elected to the Olathe City Council in 1993.
Copeland became mayor after Larry Campbell, now the state’s budget director who is still a member of the Olathe City Council.
Copeland went on to become the longest serving mayor in the city’s 162-year history.
He was remembered for his generally upbeat personality and a willingness to help his peers and impart advice.
He also was recognized not only his efforts to help Olathe grow, but playing key roles in bi-state initiatives such as downtown Kansas City’s Union Station.
“The impact Mayor Mike has had on Olathe will be remembered for decades,” said City Councilwoman Karin Brownlee.
“Our hearts break for Maria and their precious children. He was a long time friend of more than 25 yrs who I will really miss,” Brownlee said.
A saddened Campbell expressed his sorrow at losing someone he served with on the City Council since 1995.
“He was a true public servant,” Campbell said as his voiced cracked with emotion. “He loved people and he loved to do his job.”
House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. served on the Olathe City Council when Copeland was was mayor. He said Copeland was the first to encourage him to run for office.
“During our time serving Olathe together, I gained a great understanding of policy making and consensus building through Mike’s mentorship,” he said in a post on Facebook.
“He was always available to listen, to encourage and to offer guidance,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful for the impact Mike made on my life and for his legacy as a devoted leader of the city of Olathe.”
Gov. Laura Kelly expressed her sympathies in a tweet.
“Mayor Copeland served his community with honor and integrity for nearly 20 years,” Kelly said in a tweet.
“I offer my condolences to the mayor’s family, friends and the Olathe community during this difficult time,” she said.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he was heartbroken by news of Copeland’s death.
“Whether at a ballgame or a business meeting, Michael was genuine, smiling and willing to give welcome advice to a rookie mayor like me,” Lucas said in a statement.
“I will miss and this region will miss his unifying voice in these tumultuous times.”
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran remembered Copeland fondly.
“As mayor of Olathe for nearly two decades, his first concern was never for himself but always for his community – how he could make Olathe a better place for every family living there and every individual passing through,” Moran said in a statement.
“I know I speak for many others when I say we came to appreciate, respect and love Mike for the helpful, supportive, and caring friend and leader that he was.
“He always put others first, and I benefited greatly from his friendship,” Moran said.
During his career, Copeland served as the deputy secretary of workforce services for the Kansas Department of Commerce.
He also worked as president and chief executive officer of the Security Savings Bank in Olathe, and he was the Olathe market president at the Bank of Blue Valley.
In 2018, Copeland was appointed administrator of the GSA’s Heartland Region, where he oversaw the agency’s operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
He also was responsible for an inventory of 392 government-owned or leased buildings and more than 600 employees.
He also served on the board of directors for Union Station and for KVC Behavioral Healthcare Systems.
He is survived by his wife, Maria; two daughters, Olivia and Abigail; and his son, Joshua.
