Published Thursday, September 04, 2008

Moreland mayor Ken Hurst found dead

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

A body found in a remote area off Meadows Boone Road just east of Luthersville Thursday morning has been identified as Moreland Mayor Kendal Hurst, 66, according to authorities.

At this point, authorities with the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office don’t suspect foul play, according to Col. Chuck Smith. Hurst’s body has been transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab for autopsy.

“Based on their findings, we will determine where we’ll go,” said Smith on Thursday. “We don’t want to speculate or assume anything.”

Hurst’s body was found on Thursday at approximately 9 a.m. by a person riding horseback in the area. Hurst’s vehicle was found nearby.

Members of Hurst’s family had reported him missing at the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, according to Smith. Hurst was not present at Tuesday’s Moreland Town Council meeting.

Hurst grew up in Luthersville and had lived in Moreland for more than 40 years. He has worked as a building inspector, a town marshal and an animal control officer.

He was sworn in as the mayor of Moreland in January 2007 after serving on the town council for two years before that. He was nearing the end of his two-year term as mayor, which will be filled by current Moreland Councilman Josh Evans in January.

Hurst has been married to his wife, Patricia, for more than 40 years. They have two sons, John and Jay.

He served in the United States Army for three years, from 1961 to 1964, during the Vietnam era and Cuban Missile Crisis.

Upon winning the mayoral seat, Hurst said, “I appreciate all of the voters who came out and voted for the mayoral race … that made my heart feel good. I appreciate everybody executing their constitutional right to vote because that’s what democracy is all about.”