Honoring the Life and Legacy of Former Mayor Patsy Sloan

Published:

January 22, 2025

Category:

General

Contact:

Deborah West - 2703933642

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

Former Bowling Green Mayor Patsy T. Sloan, 85, passed away Tuesday at the Colonial Center. A pioneering figure for women in local politics, she served on the City Commission from 1978 to 1987 and became the city’s first female mayor, holding office from 1988 to 1991.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Former Bowling Green Mayor Patsy T. Sloan died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025 at Colonial Center. She was 85.

Mrs. Sloan was a trailblazer for women in local politics in Bowling Green. She served on the City Commission from January 1978 through December 1987 and was elected as Bowling Green’s first female mayor, serving in that capacity from 1988 to 1991.

“Mayor Sloan was well-respected and remained dedicated to public service well beyond the time she served as an elected official for the City of Bowling Green,” current Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott said. “She touched many, many lives as a school teacher, as a leader, and as a compassionate, leading citizen within our community.”

In addition to her service to City government, Mrs. Sloan taught in the Social Studies Department at Bowling Green High School from 1971 to 2002.

“Patsy Sloan was an incredible educator but more than that she was a mentor and an inspiration," said former student United States Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations. "I will be forever grateful for the time I spent with her and the wisdom she passed on to me.  Her spirit, energy and commitment to service will be sorely missed by me and so many others. Godspeed to my favorite teacher of all time.”

Mrs. Sloan remained friends with many people involved in local government and leadership positions within the community. She served on numerous local boards, including the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport Board, the Warren County Downtown Economic Development  Authority (TIF), and the Bowling Green Municipal Utilities Board.

“Patsy loved Bowling Green,” former Mayor Johnny Webb said. Webb was Mrs. Sloan’s immediate successor.

“Patsy and I were friends. Our political views were not perfectly aligned. What was perfectly aligned was our love for Bowling Green,” he said. “We both always had the best interest in moving Bowling Green forward. She was someone who was easy to work with.
“She was instrumental in getting the convention center off the ground. That was huge,” he said.

The Sloan Convention Center opened in mid-1995 as the Bowling Green-Warren County Convention Center. The center was renamed in honor of Mrs. Sloan in January 2002.

City Manager Jeff Meisel knew Mrs. Sloan for decades and is a former student.

“I’ve known Patsy since I was about nine years old. My grandparents lived next door to her,” Mr. Meisel said. “She let me play in her backyard. Then I had her in class when I was a junior. That was one of the most interesting classes I had in high school.”

“She’s always been a long-time personal friend. We served on several boards together since she’s been in retirement. She’s always been a really engaged former mayor,” Mr. Meisel said.

Mrs. Sloan served as a role model to many people.

“She has been a great mentor to me over the years, and I appreciated her so much,” said retired Lost River Cave director Rho Lansden.

Arrangements are under the direction of J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels.

By order of Mayor Alcott, all City flags will remain lowered to half-staff until after Mrs. Sloan's funeral. The flags were already lowered in honor of President Carter.