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NATCHEZ –  James Biglane was “a human landmark.”

“He was one of those human landmarks, a people landmark,” Mimi Miller said in describing the Natchez businessman, banker, preservationist and founder of the Natchez Balloon Festival. “He left a legacy. And he cared very much about the community and its people.”

Biglane, who, with Cappy Stahlman, founded First Natchez Bank in 1973, died on Monday.

His legacy, as referenced by Miller, will live through United Mississippi Bank, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023; the Natchez Balloon Festival, which has grown into the biggest tourism event in southwest Mississippi; and places like Natchez Under-the-Hill, where his vision and commitment to preservation restored life to what was once an abandoned strip of land.

“James Biglane was a pillar of this community, one that we will never replace,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “His kindness, his steadfast loyalty to his family and his many employees will forever be remembered. I personally enjoyed getting to know him, having the opportunity to work with him, and today I count his passing as a personal loss. Marla and I ask for everyone’s prayers for the Biglane family and all who are today grieving his passing.”

A native of Natchez, Biglane’s vision for Natchez proved prescient as he invested in his community. Biglane followed his father’s footsteps and worked in the oil business. In 1973, he and Stahlman gathered a handful of other businessmen and pooled $500,000 together as seed money to found First Natchez Bank. Their vision was to serve parts of the market that weren’t necessarily being served, with a focus on the needs of the people in Natchez and Adams County.

Fifty years later, United Mississippi Bank has more than $500 million in assets, with branches in Natchez, Gloster, Fayette, Bude, Woodville and Vidalia, La.

Vidal Davis, who serves on the board of UMB, said in addition to his business acumen, Biglane was “a consummate gentleman, kind-hearted and a people-pleaser, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. He loved to do things for other people, and much of what he did was without acknowledgment or public attention.”

As a steward in both his businesses and his community, Biglane carried his commitment to his employees. “Whatever he had, he made it better,” Davis said. “He felt the same way about people … if he knew them, he wanted them to have a better life, better opportunities. And he was a worrier … he was always talking about the employees at the bank and how we could make life better for them.

“There are a lot of employees out there who love Mr. Biglane.”

Through United Mississippi Bank, Biglane began his involvement in historic preservation, specifically in downtown Natchez, where UMB restored its main building and later purchased and renovated the storefront of a second building. When Mimi Miller and her late husband, Ron, moved to Natchez in 1973 to work with the Historic Natchez Foundation, work quickly began on the UMB downtown building. “I consider it one of the first examples we have of repurposing historic properties downtown,” said Miller.

“Then we go to Under-the-Hill,” she continued. “When I moved here there no businesses, no storefronts … there were chickens on the streets and I think a nab machine down there along with Steve Stevens’ floating dock.”

Biglane owned the property Under-the-Hill, and the restoration of the Under-the-Hill Saloon was the first investment in the development of the area. “After that, James started attacking the buildings one at a time,” Miller said. “That will always be a major monument to James Biglane.”

Davis echoed Miller’s comments about the importance of Biglane’s development of Natchez Under-the-Hill. “He loved Natchez Under-the-Hill, and he had high expectations of what it could be,” Davis said. “He was very confident in his vision (for the area).”

Another vision Biglane brought to the community was the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, now named the Natchez Balloon Festival.

Biglane and Stahlman shared a passion for hot air ballooning, and in 1986, they decided that Natchez should host a weekend-long balloon racing event.

“I remember that very first race weekend when we were behind the Natchez Mall in 1986,” Miller said. “The wind was terrible, and it was not as well regulated back then as it is today. Today, they wouldn’t fly in that weather.

“But we had maybe five or six balloons, and James could not stand thinking that nobody was going to see a balloon in the sky. So he flew … he went sideways for a long time, but he was the star pilot that weekend.”

In reflecting on the festival’s early years, Miller said Biglane’s personal and financial commitment built the foundation for today’s event. While the balloon festival has always benefitted the Historic Natchez Foundation, its secondary beneficiary is the city of Natchez, specifically downtown and merchants, hotels and restaurants.

“Normally, these things are held at airports or someplace like that,” Miller said. “I think we’re the only ones who hold the festival downtown.”

Dan Bland, a fellow businessman and friend of Biglane’s for more than 60 years, said much of Biglane’s work was done without fanfare or attention.

“James was genuinely a nice guy, just a sweet guy,” Bland said. “James would be very silent about what he did for this town. But he did a heck of a lot for the town.”

The pair shared frequent Friday lunches at Mammy’s Cupboard, where Biglane would order the special “with a double order of green beans. He loved green beans more than anybody I knew,” Bland shared with a laugh.

Most important, Biglane loved his community and the people in his life.

“Whatever James did, he kept to himself … but he was doing something constantly.”

As news of Biglane’s passing was shared on Monday, community leaders from all walks of life reflected on his vision, kindness and commitment to the community.

“He was one of the most kindest, most selfless gentlemen I’ve ever met,” said Wes Middleton, who serves on the Adams County Board of Supervisors. “His impact on this community will be felt for a very long time.”

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten admired Biglane’s authenticity. “One thing about him is that he didn’t see color, race, or anything. He was a straight shooter. And no matter where you were at financially, spiritually or whatever, he treated you like he would treat his own,” Patten said.

Phillip West, former Natchez mayor and vice president of the Natchez-Adams School District board, said Biglane was a “visionary. He was the kind of person who would do all he could do to help the total community.

“There was nothing that I asked him to support that he declined,” West said. “He was a good human being and was ahead of his time.”

The two met and became friends many years ago. “I met James through Robert Johnson Sr., and I met his father before he passed,” he said. “I know that a lot of people who were known for their good work have passed away now. To go that far back with him, James was so consistent with his beliefs.”

West said Biglane only asked one thing of him, which he declined. “He wanted me to take a ride in one of those balloons. I just couldn’t do it. I have trouble getting on airplanes,” he said.

“James was always welcoming to me, always made time to talk to me and wanted to know what was going on in the community,” West said. “I thought so much of him I asked him to be a pallbearer at my funeral, and he agreed.

“I talked with him about a month ago, and he looked and sounded fine. He did tell me his family was limiting the amount of time he was spending at the bank. He said he was only working until 12 o’clock,” West said. “He was a genuine person and had an attitude that helped move us a long way forward. I wish there were more James Biglanes around. He established a legacy as a friend of the community and as a friend of mine.”