Page 10 - Sept-Oct2023 Vol 41 No 3

RED BANK By Lisa Hood Skinner
Ledford Wins 2023 Snoderly Award

Mark Miller, TCAPWA Chapter Administrator and Public Works Director for the City of Pigeon Forge, and Kimberly Strong, Chapter Vice President and Awards Chairman,
presented the Murphy Snoderly Award to Johnny Leford with the City of Red Bank. Red Bank Public Works Director, Greg Tate and Red Bank Vice Mayor, Stephanie
Dalton were on hand to celebrate his recognition at the TML Conference.
A City of Red Bank heavy equipment carpentry, masonry, welding, operating within the state. The recipient of this
operator with more than three decades a bucket truck from heights to driving award must be an operation level or
of Public Works service and a “never commercial vehicles, he has a drive to “working person” employee. Murphy
quit” attitude, Johnny Ledford is the succeed.” Snoderly, for whom the award is named,
winner of this year’s TCAPWA Murphy In fact, Tate said that Ledford “has was a long-time engineering and Public
Snoderly Award. become a utility player over the years Works consultant for the state Municipal
Greg Tate, City of Red Bank Public and is often used to fill in for critical Technical Advisory Service.
Works Director calls Ledford a “Jack of positions such as a solid waste driver Snoderly felt the working person,
All Trades” who is a true asset to the city operating garbage trucks and brush the man or woman who day in and day
and “the type of employee you wish you trucks in others’ absence. He is TDEC out picks up garbage or patches streets
had an army of.” Level 1 certified in Storm Water or performs dozens of other chores at
“Ledford began his municipal service Management and he can perform a relatively low pay scale, should be
with the City of Red Bank as a part- the duties of any other job that is recognized for dedication and service to
time laborer installing sewer lines. needed and critical for the city’s daily the community.
After approximately one year of part- operations.” The award is presented annually at
time service, he was hired as a regular “He is well respected by his peers as the Tennessee Municipal League (TML)
employee of the city. With his 31 years well as his supervisor and myself. He is Conference, held this year in Nashville
of municipal service with the city, he has a great benefit for municipal operations at the Renaissance Downtown Nashville
progressed from a laborer to a heavy- and one person who is able to get the job Hotel. It was presented July 25 to Ledford
equipment operator,” Tate said. done,” Tate said. by Kimberly Strong, TCAPWA Vice
“What truly sets him apart is his Each year the Tennessee Chapter President and Awards Chair, and Mark
ability to complete any task presented presents the Murphy Snoderly Award Miller, TCAPWA Chapter Administrator
to him,” he said. “Whether it is to a deserving Public Works employee at the Awards Breakfast.
10 TPW September/October 2023