LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s been six months since a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville and killed five people. There have been changes, but the memories don’t fade. 

Former Louisville mayor Greg Fisher was long-time friends with Thomas “Tommy” Elliott, a senior vice president at Old National Bank. He worked at the bank for 40 years.

The pair met through business. 

“Tommy was a proactive guy who was always there to help people. Whether that was a silent act at the grocery store, or whether it was putting together a business deal as a banker to make a company realize it’s potential, wherever he saw an opportunity to help people, he would do that,” Fisher said. 

Fisher says it’s still difficult to deal with the loss of Elliott and the other victims. 

“And you just still find it hard to grasp. So you move on, but you move on with a hole in your heart and hopefully their lives would not have been lost in vain,” he said.

Fisher said Elliott’s legacy and the character he upheld are inspirations for the community. 

“Be positive, help people and get involved with something bigger than yourself so you can leave a lasting impact on the world, just like Tommy Elliott did.”

To help continue Elliott’s legacy, his friends and family created the Tommy Elliott Fund for Community Leadership, to recognize individuals in the community who show the qualities Elliott exemplified. The goal of the fund is to unite diverse demographics and perspectives. The fund awards leaders with up to $20,000 to pursue civic work.

Since the shooting, Old National Bank has changed locations, but remains in downtown. Elliott’s wife, Maryanne, is currently on a pilgrimage through the Camino de Santiago in Spain to raise awareness for the Elliott fund.