Col. James Michael (Mike) McCormick, 80, from Russellville, passed away on Friday, Jan. 28, at the Hospice House in Bowling Green. A Logan County native, Mike was born on May 17, 1941, to the late Roy Crittenden McCormick and Sarah Lou James McCormick.
Mike McCormick was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Mary Lucy Givens McCormick.
He is survived by his daughter, Cindy McCormick Suiter, and her husband Pat of Russellville; his son, Shawn McCormick, of Adairville; his sister, Ann McCormick Simpson, and her husband Charles of Orlando; and, his four grandchildren, Katelyn, Nelson, Luci, and P.J. Suiter, all of Russellville.
Mike was raised and lived in Adairville, where he was a member of the Adairville High School Basketball Team. He spent his summers working on the family farm and he also worked at the Springfield Woolen Mills. Mike graduated from Adairville High School in 1959.
Mike attended Western Kentucky University and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Military Science. He worked for the FBI between his sophomore and junior years at WKU, from 1961-1962. While attending WKU, Mike was enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1963-1964.
Col. McCormick’s career and accomplishments were numerous. He was commissioned as a 2nd LT. in the United States Army in 1964, and he was ranked a Colonel when he retired in 1988. He attended the Industrial College of Armed Forces and received his National Security Management certification in 1970. Mike graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1971, where he received his MA in Diplomacy and International Commerce. In 1974, he completed the US Army Command and General Staff College.
During Col. McCormick's 24-year military career and employment, he was stationed in the following places:
• Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii, 1964-1966
• First Tour in Vietnam - 25th Infantry Division, 1966-1967
• Fort Holabird, MD - Military Intelligence training, 1967
• Washington, DC – Served in Counter-Intelligence, 1967-1968
• Second Tour in Vietnam – Served as Company Commander, 1st MIBARS, 1968-1969
• Fort Holabird, MD – 9-month Military Intelligence Career Course, 1969-1970
• Lexington, KY – Student at the University of Kentucky for MA, 1970-1971
• Washington, DC - Taught at the Defense Intelligence School, 1971-1974
• Fort Leavenworth, Kansas - Student at the US Army Command and General Staff College, 1974-1975
• Washington, DC - Served on the Army Staff at the Pentagon, 1975-1978
• Fort Campbell, KY – Served as Deputy G2 of the 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne / Air Assault Division, 1978-1980
• Heidelberg, Germany - Served as Commander of the US Army Special Security Command, US Army Europe, 1980-1983
• Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, VA – Served as Deputy Post Commander, 1983-1985
• Fort Richie, MD – Served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of the 7th Signal Command, 1985-1988
• Officially Retired in 1988 from the United States Army with the rank of Colonel (Full Bird), after which he returned to his family home in Adairville, until he moved to Russellville in 2000.
In addition to honorably serving his country, Mike was an active member in his community, and he had served as a Loan Officer at the Adairville Banking Company and as the Logan County Solid Waste Coordinator. He was a former board member on the Electric Plant Board, the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Logan County School Board, a former member of the Russellville Rotary Club and the Bowling Green Kayaking Club. Mike was a former member of the United Methodist Church in Adairville, and a current member of the United Methodist Temple in Russellville.
Mike enjoyed volunteering and speaking on military topics. He also enjoyed hiking, working with his roses in his rose garden, reading, and listening to live music on the local town squares. He loved and cherished his family, his friends, his country, and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He will be greatly missed.
Memorial donations may be made to Lucy’s Coat Closet, c/o First Christian Church, 201 West 7th Street, Russellville, KY 42276; to Lewis Manor Assisted Living, 2901 Bowling Green Road, Franklin, KY 42134; and, to Hospice of Southern Kentucky, 5872 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42104.
Mike McCormick’s wishes were to be cremated and to not have a funeral service. However, a Memorial Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 14, at noon, at the Adairville United Methodist Church, located at 205 North Church Street, in Adairville. There will be no visitation held before the service.
aSummers and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.