James Eugene Mitchell

James E. Mitchell, who died September 22, 2022, was a journalist, public relations practitioner and investor in new companies. He had resided in Albuquerque since 1961. Survivors from the immediate family include his sons Richard, Albuquerque, and Barry, Oklahoma City; Barry's wife Lynn; three grandchildren, Braden and wife, Erin; Barrie Jo and husband, Dan; and Brennan and husband, Scott; two great-grandchildren, Dakwann and Darrell; brother, Auburn and his wife, Sara, Austin, TX; two sisters and their husbands, Mignon and Gale Sullivan, Lewisville, TX; and Evonne and Dee Roberson, Oklahoma City; and Donnie, wife of Dwayne, a deceased brother, and nieces, nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his wife Josephine, to whom he was married from 1954 until her death in 2021, brother Maurice and his wife Kathryn and brother Dwayne.

Born on a farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle on December 2, 1932, he experienced the full impact of the Dust Bowl and Depression in his early years. He received a degree in English from Panhandle State University, Goodwell, OK, in 1954, and worked as a sports editor and news reporter on the Southwest Daily Times, Liberal, KS, until 1957, when he and his family moved to Stillwater, OK. He was employed as a news writer at Oklahoma State University for five years, taught journalism there briefly, and received his master's degree in journalism in 1960. His wife Josephine received two degrees at the same time.

He joined the Public Information Division at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque in late 1961. He later served as supervisor of the Division and as Manager of the Information Department. He implemented the Laboratories national media program, which helped to publicize such developments as the laminar flow clean room, a key invention in the worldwide transition to micro-electronic components and systems. He retired in January 1992 after 30 years of service.

He had a number of special interests: his grandchildren, sports, science, business, investment, advertising and adventure. He served on the Board of Directors of CVI Laser and Terra Corporations for many years, both new companies in Albuquerque. He also served as a public relations advisor to Ranchers Exploration and Development, handling publicity for such innovations as conversion of copper-bearing liquids directly into cathodes, eliminating the need for smelting. This efficient new technique is now used worldwide in the production of copper.

Maxie Anderson, president of Ranchers, was a balloonist and his interest led to Mitchell’s service in planning and promoting the International Balloon Museum in Albuquerque. It also led to his handling the various phases of public relations planning and publicity for 15 long distance balloon flights from 1977-2002. These included the first transatlantic crossing by Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman in the Double Eagle II in 1978; first transatlantic solo flight by Col. Joseph Kittinger; first transcontinental crossing of the U.S. by Maxie Anderson and his son Kris; Atlantic and Pacific crossings by Per Lindstrand and Sir Richard Branson; a record high-altitude flight by Lindstrand; and seven global attempts, including the solo circumnavigation by Steve Fossett in 2002. He received the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award in 1978 for his work on the Double Eagle II flight, the first New Mexican to receive the award. “Maxie,” a 388-page book published in 1985 concluded his ballooning activities.

A visitation for James will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 13313 North Kelley, Oklahoma City, OK 73131, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM. A graveside service will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The service for James will be Central Time and 10:55 MST Mountain Standard time.

To watch James' funeral service, please click on the link below to join the live stream. (It will begin at 12:00 pm, Central Time).

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1664326956210422

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Mitchell family.