A public celebration of life ceremony will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, to honor the legacy of Dr. Charles H. (Charlie) Mitchell, a University of Washington football standout and longtime Seattle education leader who passed away peacefully on June 27 at the age of 85.
The ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Club Husky in Husky Stadium, located at 3800 Montlake Blvd NE. Guests may enter and park on the south side of the stadium. A campus map is available at washington.edu/maps.
Dr. Mitchell, a 1992 inductee into the Husky Hall of Fame, was a three-time letterman halfback at UW from 1960 to 1962. He helped lead the Huskies to the 1961 Rose Bowl, where they defeated No. 1-ranked Minnesota to win the national championship. Known for his speed and agility, he also earned All-America recognition in both 1961 and 1962 and was twice named all-conference.
Born on May 25, 1940, in Arizona, Mitchell was raised in Seattle and graduated from Garfield High School. After his standout collegiate career, he was drafted in 1963 by both the Chicago Bears (NFL) and the Denver Broncos (AFL), eventually playing five seasons in Chicago and one in Buffalo before retiring from professional football.
Following his football career, Mitchell pursued higher education, earning a master’s degree from Seattle University and a doctorate from Brigham Young University. He worked briefly in public service, including roles in the Colorado Governor’s Office and with King County Executive John Spellman, before beginning a transformative career in higher education.
Mitchell joined Seattle Central Community College, where he would leave a lasting mark as an educator and administrator. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became president of Seattle Central and later chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges system, where he was widely respected for his commitment to equity, access, and student success.
Throughout his career, Mitchell was celebrated not only for his achievements on the field and in education, but for his leadership, integrity, and deep impact on generations of students, athletes, and community members.
Dr. Mitchell is survived by his children, Julie (Darrin) and Rashad (Kris); grandchildren, Tracey, Michelle, Madden, Christian and Zoe; his sister Audrey (Dalton); brothers Paul and Mason, Jr. (Helen); and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, sister Edna, and brother Hollis.
The Nov. 8 celebration will reflect on Mitchell’s life as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, athlete, educator, and mentor.
