Thomas Elliott: Louisville mass shooting victim was 'incredible friend' of Andy Beshear
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Thomas Elliott, a close friend of Governor Andy Beshear and son-in-law of Roy Honeycutt, former president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), was among those killed in the Louisville bank shooting on Monday, April 10. He was also the senior vice president at the bank. The news of his death was confirmed in a statement by SBTS President Albert Mohler.
“The Southern Seminary family expresses deep sympathy to the family of Thomas Elliott, killed in the mass shooting today at Old National Bank. Mr Elliott was a leader in Kentucky business and political life,” it read. “He was husband to Maryanne (Honeycutt) Elliott, daughter of the late Dr. Roy Lee Honeycutt, 8th president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his wife June. Dr. Honeycutt served as president from 1982 to 1993. Our love and prayers are with Maryanne Honeycutt Elliott, her two daughters, Katherine and Emily Dotson, the entire Elliott family, and Maryanne’s sweet mother, June Honeycutt, who served so faithfully alongside her husband at Southern Seminary,” the statement added.
READ MORE
Joshua Barrick: Louisville bank shooting victim, 40, was a dedicated banker and devoted family man
Juliana Farmer: Louisville bank shooting victim, 45, remembered as 'best mom, friend and grandma'
Who was Thomas Elliott?
Elliott was the senior vice president of the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky and a victim of the mass shooting incident that left five people dead. He was 63 years old at the time of his death. He also served as the chairman of the Baptist Health Louisville administrative board, Yahoo News reported. “Tommy Elliott has been a passionate advocate for Baptist Health and a community leader,” Larry Gray, president of Baptist Health Louisville, said in a statement. "His love for both led him to strong positions calling for accountability and grace. He was forward-thinking, always focused on the next steps to move Baptist Health forward. He was a friend to many who believed in making our community a better place to live and thrive,” the president added.
The 63-year-old hailed from Elizabethtown and lived in Louisville with his family, as per his Baptist Health bio. He went to Elizabethtown High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in business and office administration from the University of Kentucky. His career in banking spanned across 40 years, during which he offered various financial services. He also served as the former Chairman of the Board of the Kentucky Retirement System and the American Heart Association, Kentuckiana Division and was the Mayor of the City of Norbourne Estate in Jefferson County for eight years. Elliott also served two two years on the board of the Jefferson County League of Cities. He was even part of boards for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Kentucky Educational Television, Commonwealth Fund for KET, Little Sisters of the Poor, The Kentucky Show and Kentucky Arts and Craft Foundation.
Elliott was the husband of Maryanne Honeycutt Elliott and son-in-law of late Dr Roy Lee Honeycutt, 8th president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg both called Elliott a good friend during a press conference following his death.
‘He was an incredible friend’
In the wake of Thomas Elliott’s death, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called him “an incredible friend.” The governor said, “We lost four children of God today, one of whom was one of my closest friends. Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career (and) helped me become governor.” Beshear continued, “He gave me advice on being a good dad. He's one of the people I talk to most in the world, and very rarely are we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.”
Other victims of the mass shooting were identified as Jim Tutt Jr, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 45, and Deana Eckert, 57. The shooter, Connor Sturgeon, an employee of Old National Bank was shot to death by cops.