The John Woodruff “City Above Self” Award is traditionally presented to an individual who has dedicated themselves to improving Arkansas’ cities and towns. This year the League presented the award to five city officials, the mayors of the cities that bore the brunt of the devastating March 31 tornado. The recipients are Jacksonville Mayor Jeff Elmore, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick, Sherwood Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell and Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs.
Eight municipal officials received the Adrian L. White Municipal Leadership Award. The award is presented to officials who have served on the League’s boards, councils or committees for six years. The award is named in honor of White, who was the mayor of Pocahontas from 1967-1974 and a former League president and vice president. This year’s recipients are Benton Comptroller Mandy Spicer, Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken, Gassville Council Member Anita Seaman, Haskell Recorder/Treasurer Jennifer Hill, Hope City Manager J.R. Wilson, McCaskill Mayor Marion Hoosier, Mountain View Mayor Roger Gardner and Prescott Council Member Howard Austin.
Twenty-seven cities and towns received the Four Star Municipality Award for demonstration of excellence in loss control, employee safety, wellness, vehicle safety and prevention of liability. They are: Amity, Bearden, Calico Rock, Cammack Village, Carlisle, Central City, Coal Hill, Cove, Dell, Dierks, Garfield, Havana, Huntington, Knoxville, Lakeview, Lamar, Mammoth Spring, Mansfield, Maynard, Norfork, Patterson, Quitman, Smackover, Swifton, Tyronza, Wilmar and Wilmot.
Three city officials who have served the League for 12 years received the Marvin L. Vinson Commitment to Excellence Award, named for the longtime Clarksville mayor who served from 1983 until 2001 and was League president in 1992-1993. The recipients are Fort Smith City Director Kevin Settle, Jonesboro Council Member John Street and North Little Rock Council Member Charlie Hight.
Five city officials received the Jack R. Rhodes, Sr., Distinguished Service Award for 25 years of dedicated service to the League. Rhodes served as mayor of Lake Village from 1957 until his retirement in 1990 and was one of the longest-serving mayors in Arkansas history. This year’s recipients are Prescott Council Member Susie Reynolds Meeks, Austin Council Member Laurel Carnes, Austin Mayor Bernadette Chamberlain, Crossett Council Member C.T. Foster and Ozark Mayor Roxie Hall.
