“I kept wondering why so many people were here,” City Manager Mike Walker, center, said after being named Brentwood Rotary's 2011 Community Service Award winner. Almost all of the city's commissioners and several senior staff members attended.

Walker's served with 'integrity, dignity and compassion' 
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
City Manager Mike Walker had planned to head to his lake house on Friday but the dreary weather postponed his departure.

It was a good thing for both Walker and the Brentwood Rotary Club. If Walker had left, he wouldn’t have received the surprise honor of being named the club’s Community Service Award winner. And the club would have missed its guest of honor and main program.

Walker joins an impressive list of past recipients: Glenn Huff, Billy Jim Vaughan and Rhea Little Sr.

Mike Walker, right, receives the Community Service Award from City Commissioner Rhea Little Jr.

“Service is a human’s most noble pursuit,” City Commissioner Rhea Little told club members and guests gathered at the Brentwood Country Club on Friday. “The person who is selected for the Brentwood Rotary Community Service Award carries out this most noble pursuit on a daily basis year after year in such a way that it has a profound effect on Brentwood and those who live here.”

“I’m glad I did show up today,” said Walker, after Little made the surprise announcement.  “I kept wondering why so many people were here.” Attending Friday’s meeting were almost the entire City Commission and several senior staff members.

“I love this job. I love going to work every day. I still have fun, and this club is a large part of my life as well,” Walker added.

Walker has been city manager since 1990. Currently he oversees a $55 million annual operating budget and a six-year, $130 million capital improvements program.

Little, city attorney Roger Horner and Asst. Fire Chief Brian Goss then shared a few words – and even a few laughs – in Walker’s honor.

Horner pointed out that Walker had served as city manager for almost half of the city’s 41-year history. Prior to his arrival, the city went through 11 managers in its first 20 years.

“It says a lot about Mike that he’s been here 20 years,” Horner said.

He talked about Walker’s “warm, fuzzy, touchy feelingness.”

“I’m just joking about that one,” he quickly added. But he did say Walker “has a true passion for the job he does.” Playing off the International City/County Management Association’s ICMA logo, Horner said it really stands for “ ‘I Can Manage Anything’ and that is true for Mike.”

Over the past 20 years, Walker has led the city through droughts, floods, ice storms, rezonings and many other challenges, Horner said, “and he always did it with integrity, dignity and compassion.”

Goss, who will become the city’s fire chief this summer following the retirement of longtime chief Kenny Lane, obviously wasn’t worried about job security when he reeled off ringer after ringer about Walker. He talked about his own job interview a few years ago. When he returned to Michigan, Goss said his wife asked him how it went.

“I told her, ‘These guys have really great hair,’” he said of Walker and assistant city manager Kirk Bednar. Goss keeps his own head is closely shaven.

On a more serious note, Goss said Walker “is a unique visionary. I think Brentwood’s in the situation it is because he can do this.”

Walker, a native of Greensboro, N.C. is a graduate of High Point University and earned his master of public administration degree from the University of Tennessee.

He served in city administration in Knoxville and Oak Ridge before coming to Brentwood.  A past president of the Tennessee City Management Association, he was recognized as the state’s top city manager in 2005.

The criteria to win the award includes having high moral character and ethical standards, someone who has demonstrated community leader for at least 20 years, and someone who is recognized by most Rotary members and the community as a major contributor to the growth and quality of life in the community.

The recipient also is expected to have lived and conducted themselves personally and professionally according to the Rotary International’s “4-way test”: Is it the Truth, Is it Fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships and will it be beneficial to all concerned.