February 3, 2003

During the 71st Winter Meeting, Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe was presented the highest award given by the Conference of Mayors: the Distinguished Public Service Award.

Mayor Ashe served as President of the Conference of Mayors from 1994-1995. He was first elected mayor of Knoxville in 1987, and is now in his fourth term and 16th year as mayor of Knoxville.

Following a special video presentation, Ashe was joined at the podium by his wife Joan and children J. Victor and Martha. Ashe thanked Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the leadership of the Conference, Executive Director J. Thomas Cochran and the Conference staff, his department heads and personal staff, and "ultimately, the people of Knoxville for allowing me to serve as mayor, and thus be a member of this fantastic organization."

"Words don't adequately express my appreciation... We all come from different political, ideological and ethnic backgrounds throughout the entire United States, but as mayors we have the common goals of making our home towns the best place to live and raise our families, and its through this organization that so much has been achieved," Ashe said.

Following is the special program presented during the ceremony.

The United States Conference of Mayors Distinguished Public Service Award
Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe

The first United States Conference of Mayors Award for Distinguished Public Service, established in 1949, was presented to General George C. Marshall at the White House by President Harry Truman on November 25, 1949. The award was established by the Executive Committee of the Conference and is presented to individuals for "outstanding and meritorious public service" to the nation's cities.

Since 1949 only 16 awards have been presented. Recipients have included Mayor David Lawrence of Pittsburgh, Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago, Mayor Richard C. Lee of New Haven, Mayor Art Holland of Trenton, Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, Lawrence Spivak, producer of NBC's Meet the Press and John J. Gunther, former Executive Director of The United States Conference of Mayors, Mayor Jerry Abramson of Louisville and President William Jefferson Clinton in 2000.

On behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors Executive Committee, Mayor Thomas M. Menino presents Mayor Victor Ashe, The United States Conference of Mayors Distinguished Public Service Award.

The Executive Committee, in according Mayor Ashe the highest award our organization presents, recognizes Mayor Ashe's outstanding leadership.

Mayor Ashe took the gavel and provided stable leadership during one of the most turbulent political periods in America.

Mayor Ashe leaves a legacy with the Conference of Mayors for his advocacy for urban parks. His contribution has indeed helped our cities and America to be more beautiful and has provided leisure opportunities for young and old.

Mayor Ashe has always been an advocate of civil and human rights for all.

Mayor Ashe has been the strongest voice for bipartisanship within the family of America's Mayors.

He is always looking to find the practical solution for getting things done in the dynamic political arena of the nation's mayors and their continued advocacy with the Congress and the Executive Branch of the federal government.