By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Harry John Bothwell, chief architect of the Florence Mall, died Sunday in Hendersonville, N.C., after a three-week illness. He was 74.

Mr. Bothwell was a retired president and chief executive of Hixson Architects, Engineering, Interiors in Cincinnati.

As chief architect he was "ultimately responsible for bringing the project to a successful conclusion," in 1976, said Wick Ach, current president and chief executive of Hixson.

Mr. Bothwell joined Hixson as chief architect in 1967 after running his own firm for 12 years.

"He was so proud that he was able to be both a professional architect and run a successful business at the same time," Ach said.

Mr. Bothwell "focused on the clients and understanding their needs rather than just designing something in his own image," Ach said. .

"The other side of him was that he loved to help mentor and guide people. There's a number of people within our organization who have been here for years that he originally hired and developed their skills."

A native Cincinnatian, Mr. Bothwell was born to Elsie Dunkman Bothwell and Harry U. Bothwell in 1929.

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. He ran his own architecture firm until Lewis Hixson asked him to join his firm.

In addition to designing Florence Mall, Hixson architects worked on many processing facilities for the Kroger Co.

Mr. Bothwell succeeded Hixson as president and CEO in 1975 and retired to Sarasota, Fla., in 1983. He moved to Hendersonville in 1993.

He was a model railroader and past president of Apple Valley Model Railroad Club. Other interests included jazz, wine tasting and gourmet cooking.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Loni R. Bothwell; five daughters, Linda Mautner, Lisa Roehr, and Cynthia King, all of Cincinnati, Nancy Dickey of Concord, N.C., and Stephani Roark of Orlando, Fla.; two sons, John Bothwell and Ralph King Jr., both of Cincinnati; a brother, Robert O. Bothwell of Alexandria, Va.; a sister, Joyce Buch of Cincinnati; and 15 grandchildren.

A memorial service is 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville. The remains were cremated.

Memorials: Harry Bothwell Memorial Scholarship Fund, College of Architecture, University of Cincinnati, c/o J.W. Ach, 659 Van Meter St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-1568.