There was something ‘intangible’ about the way Michael Powers did his job, the energy he brought to the atmosphere around him, that made him special.

Longtime friends Kevin Rockwood and Justin Michaels spoke about Powers Monday night, and the things that make him so special, after learning the tragic news that their friend was killed after being hit by a car over the weekend.

Powers was killed after being hit by a woman who was driving north on Front Street in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, around 6:26 p.m. Sunday.

Powers spent more than 16 years working alongside Kevin Rockwood, and the two were friends before that. Michaels met Powers in the early 2000s, when Michaels was still a student at Shippensburg University.

Both ended up working with Powers, and went from co-workers to lifelong friends.

Rockwood, the general manager of Boiling Springs Tavern in Cumberland County, learned of Power’s death on Sunday night.

“I was in total disbelief. It still doesn’t seem real," Rockwood said. “It’s hard to believe I won’t see him at work tomorrow.”

Michael said he didn’t think the loss will sink in until he returned to the bar, with his friend not there.

Powers was an integral member of Rockwood’s staff of 35.

“He was a very caring individual who always remembered your name and story. He went out of his way to make everyone feel at home when they walked in the Boiling Springs Tavern,” Rockwood said.

“You could briefly mention something to him in casual conversation and then four months later he would bring in an article or book about that topic to share with you,” Rockwood said.

Michaels echoed the sentiment, calling Powers a “cornerstone” at Boiling Springs Tavern, who was a big part of why people kept coming back.

“He was the guy you went in, chatted with, he’d tell you a nice joke,” Michaels said. “He made the place like our ‘Cheers’ and an extension of our home.”

What do you say about a friend of more than 20 years gone far too soon? You may not know who this person is, but his... Posted by Justin Michaels on Monday, December 10, 2018

Outside the bar, Michaels had invaluable experiences with his friend, including everything from family events to U2 concerts and sporting events.

Michaels is currently a National Correspondent for The Weather Channel, but said Powers did something no other friends did when Michaels got his first job: He visited Michaels not once, but twice, all the way out in Lubbock, Texas.

“Using his own vacation time, Michael was the guy who showed up,” Michaels said. They went to Texas Tech games, and had fun during those trips. Powers went on to visit Michaels all over the country over the course of Michaels' career

Michaels said even with those trips and all the other life events and concerts, it was the little things like going to a Mexican restaurant on Allison Hill for tacos to talk and “get together and be friends" that will stay with him the most.

Rockwood said Powers loved to read, and it was a love that Powers shared with others.

Michaels said on any given day, he’d walk into the tavern and Powers would disappear for a moment and come back with a book. Michaels now has a shelf full of books Powers bought just for him.

“Out of the goodness of his heart, he thought it was interesting and thought I would find them interesting,” Michaels said.

Both men are going to miss their friend dearly, especially when going back to the tavern.

“He made an immeasurable impact on thousands of people around the world,” Rockwood said. “The outpouring of support has been truly incredible and it is just another testament to that man that he was.”

Michaels said Powers had such an impact on central Pennsylvania.

“He brought nearly 24 years of service. And the times people had when they were with him, whether they were friends or not, were good times,” Michaels said.

Rockwood said he hopes people remember Powers “as the kind hearted soul that he was."

There is an entire community mourning him, Rockwood said.

“There will always be something missing,” Michaels said.