PILOT MOUNTAIN — A former mayor of Pilot Mountain died on Feb. 9. Philip Hiatt Pell was first appointed to the town board of commissioners to fill the term of J.E. Needham on May 2, 1967. He was appointed mayor on Jan. 10, 1968, to replace Henry Ridenhour.

Pell was replaced by John McKenzie in the May 1969 election. He was born and raised in the area and was a resident of the Nevada State Veterans’ Home of Boulder City, Nev. Pell was a World War II combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army Corps in the Pacific theater.

Pell’s second cousin, Frank Badgett, remembered Pell being a solid community member who was pleasant company.

“He was fixture of Pilot Mountain. Everyone knew him. He always had good jokes to tell and he was just a solid guy. A good fellow to buddy around with,” said Badgett.

According to his obituary, Pell was active in the town’s economy and owned and operated a general store and other businesses for many years. He was known as an enthusiastic supporter of the Salvation Army and the local Boy Scouts of America Troop. Prior to Pell retiring and relocating to Nevada, he was also an active member in the First United Methodist Church of Pilot Mountain.

Funeral arrangements can be found on page A3 of today’s edition.