Paul H. Mitchell

Paul Howard Mitchell, 84, of Bonita Springs, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025 at his residence. Formerly of St. Louis, Missouri, Paul had been a full-time resident of Bonita Springs since 1999. Paul was born October 18, 1940, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of the late Clarence and Lavene Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was a devoted husband and father who, from humble beginnings, achieved great success. He lost his father when he was 15 years old and was raised by his loving mother. After completing the ROTC program and graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he worked at Eastman Kodak for a few months before serving two years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He received the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Military Service and achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Mr. Mitchell then held leadership positions at major corporations in the Fort Smith, Ark., region. In 1970, he was offered a position as engineering manager at Tetra Plastics near St. Louis. By 1972, he had been promoted to vice president. In 1980, Mr. Mitchell and his colleagues began working with the sporting equipment giant Nike and were instrumental in the development of a uniquely engineered cushioning system for the Nike Air line of shoes. In 1988, he was promoted to president and COO of Tetra and assumed general management responsibilities. In 1991, Mr. Mitchell negotiated the sale of Tetra Plastics to Nike and was named the president and CEO of the new Nike IHM subsidiary. In 1993, the plant was flooded with 7 feet of water when the Missouri River breached its levees. The plant employed about 250 people and was Nike's only Air technology materials and components manufacturing plant. Mr. Mitchell quickly moved the operation to a nearby dry location. Twenty-seven days after the flooding, damaged equipment had been rebuilt, workers were back on the line, and Nike IHM averted an international shortage of soles. In January 2000, he was named vice president for advanced research and development for Nike Global Footwear. Mr. Mitchell holds 11 patents and is a graduate of the OPM program at Harvard University Business School and was an active member of the advisory board of The University of Kansas School of Engineering from 1994 through 2020. As a longtime resident of Bonita Bay, he led the Bonita Bay Community Association’s Hurricane Relief Fund to raise money for workers in the community impacted by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022. Survivors include his loving children, Stacia M. (Mark) Sebastian of Monett, MO, Gregory D. (Linda) Mitchell of Jacksonville, FL, and P. Todd (Suzanne) Mitchell of St. Louis, MO; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy M. Mitchell, on April 17, 2017, and his son, Don H. Mitchell, on February 11, 2017. Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are being handled aby Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Paul H. Mitchell

October 18, 1940 - January 1, 2025