Bop’s Cyber Café & Water Plant

Jim Brockenborough may never have touched a computer in his life, but the plaque hanging at the shiny new Cyber Café in WKCTC’s shiny new Emerging Technology Center bears his name.

He, wife Pat, son (and my handsome husband) Bruce and their company, Hannan Supply, are among the building’s donors. And as you can see from the photo above (with staff members Kristen Whelan and Linda Hollingsworth), Jim was pleased with the result.

It must have taken quite a lot for him to let so many friends and colleagues see him in a wheelchair. Brock, as his contemporaries knew him, and Bop, as our family called him — a nickname Bruce’s daughter Joan gave him when she was little — he was extremely proud and, oh, well, a wee bit stubborn. And the loss of his strength was very difficult for him to accept. Bop obviously would have preferred to walk into the March 30 Emerging Technology Center dedication, but his legs, weakened from radiation, chemotherapy and 86 years of use, just wouldn’t cooperate.

It was his last public outing, and he looked exceptionally handsome. WKCTC CEO Barbara Veazey acknowledged him from the podium. Not one for a lot of fuss, Bop gingerly waved his hand and shrugged in that sweet way he had. After the dedication, a steady stream of Paducah’s civic leaders, family members and friends filed by to say hello to him.

That’s the last photo I took of him — I got word later that he didn’t want me to share any photos that showed the wheelchair.

I’m hoping he’ll forgive this one. I want folks to see how wonderful and sweet he was, even at the end. That’s certainly how I’ll remember him from the short number of years that I was lucky enough to have him as my father-in-law.

I was a little nervous to meet Pat and Jim Brockenborough six years ago. I certainly wanted to make a good impression. “Ask him about Paducah’s water,” Bruce suggested.

That must have sealed the deal, because Bop spent the next 30 minutes explaining in detail (in that super-cute gravely voice) Paducah’s water system, from the Ohio River to our kitchen faucets. We became fast friends.

He served on the Paducah Water Board for 31 years — 22 of those as chair. And he played a key role in helping design the water plant on 8th street. In fact, Mayor Paxton and Paducah Water CEO Glen Anderson stopped by the house Thursday afternoon to tell Bop that plans were in the works to name the plant after him. An extremely modest man, even Bop couldn’t help but be delighted.

Sadly, he will not be with us for the Willoughby James Brockenborough Water Plant dedication. He was admitted to Lourdes the next morning and passed away peacefully Monday night. Pat was with him — she’d refused to leave his side, spending each night in a cot by his hospital bed. Son Jay was with him in his last moments, too.

One of my favorite things about Bop was how much he reminded me of my own dad — both were friendly, outgoing, hardworking, they shared those flawless Southern gentlemen manners, they were extremely dedicated to their families and they both had great smiles. I like to think that they’re together now.

Bop’s visitation is 9 a.m., and his service is at 10 a.m., both at St. Thomas More Church. Please join us in celebrating his very full life and his deep love for a hometown that loved him right back — Paducah.

Online Paducah Sun readers can find his obituary here.