City of Henderson City Manager Buzzy Newman said he was a bit suspicious of what could occur at Thursday’s Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City and County when he saw best friends, Mark and Jamie Mattingly, at the event.
His grandson, Willy, up from his home in Tennessee, was there, too.
So when presenter Holli Blanford, also the city’s public relations director, said early in her speech that the recipient of this year’s Rotary Hometown Hero award had a father who served as mayor for 23 years, there was not much doubt left who it would be.
Well, maybe a little, both Newman’s sisters, Leslie Newman and Ginny Floyd were in attendance, too.
In fact, Newman said that he was told to be present at Thursday’s event because his sister, Leslie, was going to win an award. He quipped from the stage that he was sorry she didn’t win, “but maybe next year.”
Newman said he was “very surprised” for the recognition.
He said, like his sisters, he wants to give back to the community, just like their parents, Virginia and Dr. Bill Newman. His father served as mayor from 1970 to 1994 and as a city commissioner from 1966 to 1970. Buzzy Newman called community service a “family tradition.”
In his remarks on stage, he said he believes the future of Henderson is in good hands, as the leadership is being passed down from his generation to younger ones. He said “a bunch of 30-year-olds” will be in key positions in the city in the next few years.
“They’re going to take our community forward,” he said.
A point in Blanford’s speech was that Buzzy Newman has been a mentor to many in city government throughout his years there. Blanford called him one of the “best mentors I’ve had.”
Others quoted in her speech said that he is a problem solver, finding unique and new ways to address issues.
“If there is a will, Buzzy is often the way,” Blanford quoted Chamber of Commerce President Clay Gillham.
Newman has served as city manager since July 2018. Before that he worked as director of field operations at the Henderson Water Utility for about a year, and from 2008-2017, he served as the assistant city manager for the city. That was all preceded by an 18-year career at Methodist Hospital.
