Page 14 - Jan/Feb2017

TCAPWA/SWANA CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Awards from TCAPWA

A.C. Lock Public Works Leader of the Year Award Keeton
Rodney Keeton, Operations Manager, Stringfellow Chattanooga Brace
Harmon
This year’s recipient of the A.C. Lock Public Works Leader of the Year Award is Rodney Holloway
Keeton, retired from the City of Collegedale and currently at Stringfellow, Inc. His career
can be defined by the word “service.” He began his career at Collegedale many years ago
after the city leaders recognized through their interactions with him as an outside vendor
the potential that he possessed. Moving his family to Tennessee and then dedicating his
efforts to serving the citizens of his city, he worked his way up to Public Works Director
where he retired just a few years ago. But, he didn’t retire to slow down; rather he probably
picked up the pace a little bit when he went to work for Stringfellow serving clients in the
Chattanooga and surrounding area. He has served TCAPWA for years as the Lower East
Director and as he has rotated through the state leadership. He has been an example of
humble leadership as he seeks no praise toward himself, recognizing the value the team
possesses around him and utilizing their strengths as he has led TCAPWA admirably this
past year and will continue to stay involved for years to come.

W. Larry Eddins Award
David Brace, Senior Director of Public Works, Knoxville

David Brace of the City of Knoxville is this year’s W. Larry Eddins Award recipient.
He has done a great job the last few years with our education committee. He has also
involved his staff in the process and gotten them involved in the TCAPWA. Brace has
served as chairman of the committee and has worked hard to ensure that we have had
great educational sessions at our conference.

Tennessee Chapter - Award of Merit
Bobby Harmon, City of Kingsport

This year’s recipient of the Tennessee Chapter - Award of Merit is Bobby Harmon,
City of Kingsport. He was taught service from a young age as he followed his father
into the Public Works profession. In fact, he is the middle of three generations of Public
Works employees, so he has passed along this heart of service to his son who works for
the same agency. Dedication and customer service define this year’s recipient. Even as
cancer has weakened his body over the past few years, he is always the first in and last
to leave. Additionally, his supervisors have received numerous emails and letters from
customers who wanted to express how much they enjoyed his service (even in the midst
of their basements being flooded with sewage).

Charles Walter Nichols Award
Sam Holloway, City of Alcoa

This year’s Charles Walter Nichols Award recipient is Sam Holloway, City of Alcoa.
He began his career as the Vocational Training and Recycling Coordinator, teaching
and training physically challenged employees. His experience continued as he moved
from that position to the Monroe County Solid Waste Management Director and
on to the City of Alcoa Solid Waste Manager in 1997. Since that time, Holloway has
initiated many improvements to the landfill and led the landfill employees into a
team of excellence. They have changed the perception of the landfill from a less than
desirable organization to a place that employees desire to be hired into. Additionally,
he has served his profession well as an active member of the State of Tennessee Solid
Waste Director’s Board helping guide and shape rule changes within the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation.
14 TPW January/February 2017