By Melissa Segrest

Kenneth Mutscher, a member of the Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for more than two decades and vice chairman since 2014, died May 20 after a brief illness. He was a respected business and community leader in Brenham and Washington County.

During his tenure on the Bluebonnet Board, he helped usher in significant technological advances in the face of rapid growth.

“Bluebonnet has lost more than 20 years of experience and history on our Board of Directors, but we have also lost a close friend,” Board chairman Ben Flencher said. “Ken was so easy-going and level-headed. He was blessed with the ability to really think things through and make the right decision. That made him a valuable asset on our Board and for Bluebonnet’s members. This is a tough loss for everyone who knew Ken.”

Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet general manager and CEO, described Mutscher as “a kind and gracious gentleman. He was a tremendous leader and advocate for Bluebonnet’s members. I will forever respect and miss Ken’s thoughtfulness and the fiscally conservative approach he brought to every discussion and decision as a director.”

Mutscher worked for the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, then established his own financial services business in downtown Brenham. After retiring from that job, he raised registered Brangus cattle on his ranch.  Along with raising cattle, Mutscher enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with his grandson.

He was active in the region’s community groups, including being a director of the Blinn College Foundation Board. He had served as president of the Brenham Noon Lions Club and director of the Washington County United Way. He was a tireless supporter of Washington County Little League and an elder and chairman of the building committee at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham. Mutscher was an organizing member of the Bluebonnet Beef Breeders Association of Washington County and was on a committee for the Washington County Fair.

He met his wife of 47 years, Sarita Dickmann, on a blind date to a Texas-Arkansas football game. Their son, Kevin, is an attorney in Brenham.

Mutscher had a strong work ethic, starting with a job cleaning the classroom at Grace Lutheran School, where he was a student. As a youth, he worked for a local furniture store and picked cotton in the summers.

Sports played an important role in his life. Mutscher lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track while at Brenham High School, where he graduated in 1961. He attended Blinn College for two years on a baseball scholarship and played on the school’s first team to reach the National Junior College Tournament. That love for baseball led him to coach and manage Little League teams.

From Blinn, Mutscher transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a degree in business administration in 1965. During his time at UT, he worked for the Texas Senate’s sergeant-at-arms and, after graduation, worked for a year in the payroll department at Houston Lighting and Power. Then he returned to Brenham for an 11-year career as an investigator for the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. In that position, he traveled the state and worked with federal, state and local law enforcement. In addition to that career, he attained the rank of lieutenant during eight years with the National Guard.

Mutscher’s knowledge of pensions, health insurance and auditing made him an invaluable member of the Bluebonnet Board. His goal was to represent Bluebonnet members and he believed it was the cooperative’s responsibility to provide excellent service and low-cost power. He spoke of setting good policies and employing the best people as a win-win for Bluebonnet’s members.

While on the board, he obtained the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Credentialed Cooperative Director status and completed the association’s Board Leadership Program. Members had re-elected Mutscher to the Board at the cooperative's recent Annual Meeting.

He is survived by his wife, Sarita Mutscher; son Kevin Mutscher and his wife, Renee Mutscher; grandson Kaden Mutscher; sisters Rose Marie Prenzler and Carolyn Kuenstler; and numerous aunts, uncles, nephews and great-nephews.