Longtime Oldham County leader John Black dies unexpectedly at 74

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — La Grange Mayor and former Oldham County Judge-Executive John Black died unexpectedly Monday night.

Oldham County Judge-Executive David Voegele announced Tuesday that Black died his home in La Grange of an apparent heart attack. He was 74 years old.

In a statement shared on social media, Voegele called Black "one of Oldham County's most dedicated and loved public servants" and said his impact on the community spanned nearly five decades.

"John's near 50-year impact on Oldham County is without parallel," Voegele wrote.

Voegele also shared a personal connection to Black, saying the two had been brothers-in-law and friends for 51 years.

"Our family will miss him very much," he wrote. "Our sympathy to John's wife Karen and the other members of his family."

Black formerly served on the La Grange City Council before his first stint as mayor. Later, he was elected as Oldham County judge-executive before becoming mayor of La Grange a second time. His public service spans decades.

Those who knew him say he helped shape the growth of the county and its largest city.

"John wanted the community to be a place where we could all celebrate and grow and live and work and play and feel good about our communities," said Don Wright, a chaplain for the city.

Others who worked with him added that Black did his job in the community, not from behind a desk.

"We would see him, it felt like, every single day walking up and down Main Street getting his coffee," said Sarah Garrett, who runs the La Grange Main Street Program. "He loved his coffee. He was always at the Coffee Roasters. That's usually where you saw him. That was his natural habitat."

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman saw Black's love for his community, too. Coleman saying this in a statement Tuesday:

“LaGrange Mayor and former Judge-Executive John Black had an enthusiasm and dedication to his beloved city and all of Oldham County that was admirable. He had a real fire in the belly to serve and I enjoyed every time we met at the downtown coffee shop. Praying for his loved ones during this time.”

Black's life will be honored at a visitation at Southeast Christian Church La Grange Campus at 10 a.m. Thursday. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m.