Page 12 - NovDec2021 Vol39No5

KNOXVILLE Provided by Nicholas Bradshaw
Boss Earns Murphy Snoderly Award

Justin Holland, TCAPWA Chapter President; Nicholas Bradshaw, Chapter Vice President; Award Recipient Harry Boss; Chad Weth, City of Knoxville; and Mark Miller,
Chapter Administrator.

On September 1st, to a standing with his bad jokes.” or the public at large. Boss’s approachable
ovation from attendees of the Tennessee Harry Boss, winner of the TCAPWA demeanor and his ability to read the
Municipal League Conference, Knoxville’s 2021 Murphy Snoderly Award, started needs of every situation have made him a
Harry Boss received the Murphy Snoderly with the City of Knoxville 30 years ago tremendous asset in inter-departmental
Award. The award is named for Murphy as a Public Service Worker in the Public collaborations.
Snoderly, a long-time engineering and Service Department. Since then, he’s held He’s considering retiring in the next two
public works consultant for the University various Equipment Operator positions or three years, and his colleagues say it
of Tennessee Municipal Technical and is currently serving as the Master will be a challenge finding a replacement
Advisory Service. Snoderly felt that the Equipment Operator. For the past six who brings his knowledge, passion for
working person, the man or woman who years, Boss has been responsible for teaching and ability to help others.
day in and day out picks up garbage, training all employees on numerous pieces And then there’s that sense of humor…
patches streets or performs dozens of of equipment, passing on his knowledge his secret weapon when an employee he’s
other chores at a relatively low pay scale, of skills and safety techniques. working with becomes stressed about
should be recognized for dedication and And with his help, many of his his or her upcoming equipment test.
service to the community. coworkers have been offered promotions Coworkers say Boss is talented in helping
Boss is a man who can teach his and/or obtained their CDLs. His them feel more comfortable in any
department’s new employees the hands-on teaching approach? It’s a combination situation, and that his bad jokes can crack
operation of more than 20 different types of informative (yet engaging) classroom a smile on any face, easing tension so that
of equipment. instruction with hands-on equipment employees can focus.
He’s a leader who can communicate operation, ensuring that every employee They also said he’s demonstrated
well, not only with his own Public correctly implements vehicle walk-around patience, tact, and tenacity when working
Service team members, but also inter- inspections. with team members of all skill levels,
departmentally with Fleet, Civil Service A Man Who Enjoys Helping People overcoming various roadblocks that
and Human Resources, among others. Coworkers agree that he seems to just employees may experience.
And he’s the guy who, according to a Congratulations, Harry Boss, City of
co-worker, “can crack a smile on any face enjoy helping people, whether it’s a Public Knoxville Public Service Department!
Service employee, a cooperating agency,
12 TPW November/December 2021