Congressman Cohen Remembers “Mayor of Midtown” Mark Flanagan

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) recalled his good friend and colleague and "the Mayor of Midtown," Mark Flanagan, who passed away on June 15, and released the following statement:

"Mark Flanagan was considered the Mayor of Midtown. He was a resident and supporter of merchants in Midtown for more than 50 years. He was the founder of the St. Patrick's Day Irish Eyes of Memphis pub crawl from downtown, terminating at Overton Square. With Silky Sullivan and Thomas Boggs, the pub crawl was a bonanza for all the bars along the route. Mark was also involved in many other community activities, including making Overton Square and Overton Park more pedestrian-friendly. His impact on Memphis is immeasurable. He was a person of distinction in Overton Square from its first days and had the original idea for the development of Cooper-Young, which he dubbed "Coopertown," and owned some of the primary real estate that he sold to Charlie Ryan, who developed it. Mark owned Plywood Paneling in the 1960s and '70s and was involved in restaurant ventures, advising Silky Sullivan, Bud Chittom and Thomas Boggs. Mark served on the state Democratic Executive Committee after his involvement in the draft-Ted Kennedy movement in 1980, and was a Kennedy delegate at that year's Democratic National Convention.

"Mark was a friend of thousands with a heart as big as the outdoors and a personality that was even bigger. He was a great friend and advisor. His was a life well-lived, and he will be well-remembered, and I will miss him."

His Memphis family – partner Brenda Ofenheusle, daughters Margaret "Peggy" McNamara Flanagan and Hallie Goodman Flanagan, and his brother Dennis Flanagan – plan a celebration of his life sometime this summer.

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