NATCHEZ —Former Natchez alderman Bob Pollard put Natchez first when he was serving the city.

Pollard died Thursday at age 61 after being hospitalized in Brookhaven and later airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Family members discovered Pollard injured at his Chippewa Street house in Brookhaven and took him to the hospital.

Police were not immediately notified, but were contacted by family members who feared Pollard might have been beaten based on his injuries.

Brookhaven Police Chief Bobby Bell said Saturday his department has requested an autopsy report and would base further investigation on the report.

Pollard was first elected to the Ward 3 seat on the Natchez Board of Aldermen in 2004 and served two terms before losing a bid for re-election in 2012.

Former mayor Jake Middleton served with Pollard first as a fellow alderman then as mayor. Middleton said Pollard’s first priority in public service was doing what was right for Natchez.

“He always put Natchez first,” Middleton said. “He always tried to make the right decision for Natchez. His ward was important to him, but if we were in a situation where he knew the best thing to do for Natchez didn’t directly benefit Ward 3, he would do it. He wasn’t a selfish alderman. He looked at the whole picture and cared about the entire city.”

Pollard was also an alderman who could be counted on to listen to the opinions of others, Middleton said.

“He was always an alderman who was willing to listen, and he didn’t jump to any conclusions,” Middleton said. “Bob would always sit down with you and hear you out.”

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said Pollard had visible passion for serving Natchez, especially the tourism industry.

“His passion was tourism,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “He worked really hard with (former tourism director) Connie Taunton. He wanted to promote Natchez.”

Arceneaux-Mathis said Pollard also brought a great deal of laughter and humor to the board of aldermen.

“He brought a lot of fun to the board,” she said. “He was really a fun person to work with.”

Former Ward 5 alderman Mark Fortenbery also served with Pollard and said Pollard could always make his fellow city officials smile.

“Even when we could get at each other’s throats, Bob could always make everyone smile,” Fortenbery said.

Pollard’s passion for making the right decisions for Natchez was evident to all who worked with him, Fortenbery said.

“He was a caring person, who was passionate about serving the community, and it was a pleasure serving with him the four years I did,” Fortenbery said.