George L. Atkins Jr., 82, a Hopkinsville native and former mayor, died on April 14. Atkins attended the University of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship, playing for Coach Adolph Rupp, and graduated in 1963. After serving as mayor, he was elected Kentucky’s state auditor and then ran for governor in 1979 before pulling out of the race and throwing his support to the eventually winner, John Y. Brown Jr. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 19, at Pearson’s, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville. A visitation will follow from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Louisville funeral home. There will also be a Hopkinsville visitation from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Hughart Beard and Giles Funeral Home.