June 23, 2003

Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb has been voted the highest award given to an individual by mayors of the United States of America: The United States Conference of Mayors' Award For Distinguished Public Service.

Mayor Webb, currently completing his final year after three terms as mayor of Denver 1991-2003, served as the 57th President of the United States Conference of Mayors. He was also elected President of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors and the National Conference of Black Mayors.

Mayor Webb leaves a legacy for Denver and the nation's mayors within the domestic and international arena.

As Chair of The United States Conference of Mayors' Crime Task Force, Mayor Webb along with mayors and police chiefs, drafted and developed the bipartisan political strategy that led to the passage of the 1994-crime bill. Working closely with President William Jefferson Clinton and leaders of The U.S. Congress, Mayor Webb's personal, political and leadership skills were key to the passage of the legislation. In addition, he created an atmosphere of sharing best practices which helped cities reduce their crime levels during the turbulent years of violence in the 1990's.

On the international scene, he authored the resolution calling for an International Conference of Mayors and presided over the first Transatlantic Summits, a trilogy of substantive meetings in Lyon, France; Berlin, Germany; and Washington D.C. His leadership and vision culminated in the first International Conference of Mayors in New York City, January 2002 and the second held in Denver in June 2003 on the eve of the 71st Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors.

As the mayor of the city and county of Denver, he has practiced sustainable development with his vision to convert the Stapleton Airport into a thriving community with housing and jobs for thousands. The Stapleton transformation received the 2002 Stockholm Partnership Award from the King of Sweden and is recognized as the best example of true sustainable development in the world.

Mayor Webb also led his city to develop the largest city park system in America. Today there are 4,759 acres in Denver and 14,000 acres in the mountains. Denver is unique in that Red Rocks is located 30 miles outside the city and Mayor Webb's leadership was instrumental in the multi-million dollar restoration of the Red Rocks Amphitheater.

It was Mayor Webb's vision and action that brought the completion of the new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have A Dream" monument in City Park which includes the bronze statue of Dr. King along with four life'size figures of Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Mahatma Ghandi and Rosa Parks.

Other arts and culture accomplishments are the New Denver Public Library and the Art Museum Expansion in Denver. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the center of entertainment for the region and brings thousands of persons to enrich their lives and also provides economic benefits to the city.

Sports facilities in Denver today are world class with the 25 year lease with the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Broncos. The new Pepsi Center and the new Mile High Stadium all strengthen the economic base of downtown Denver.

The Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library created and established by Mayor Webb will be a major center for future generations to understand the role of African Americans in developing the Rocky Mountain West. Contained therein is a replica of the mayors' office that is interactive for learning about the role of the mayor for this metropolitan region.

Denver today is a city of best practices for all mayors, observers and students of city life to use as they work to provide the quality of life they strive for people in cities in the world.

No doubt Denver is now a world class city. It didn't just happen. Mayor Wellington E. Webb made the difference. That is why the mayors of today stand with pride in voting their highest award to him. The mayors of today and the mayors of tomorrow will learn from him as they take his legacy forward here in Denver, in the nation's cities and cities throughout the world.

The nation's mayors assembled at the 71st Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors salute Mayor Wellington E. Webb, his partner, the First Lady of Denver, Wilma J. Webb and the loyal Webb team that have supported his vision for Denver and the role of cities within our nation across the globe.

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.

To date, only seventeen Americans have received this award. It is the highest award presented by The United States Conference of Mayors.