A leader's legacy

Former City Manager Jerry Gwaltney may need to do some redecorating to his Smith Mountain Lake home after his retirement party Monday — he easily received enough plaques, photos and other honors to fill a wall.

Hundreds of people came to the party, held at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, to bid Gwaltney farewell and reflect on how much he has accomplished in his eight-and-a-half years in Danville.

Terry Tennyson, the plant manager at Goodyear, said Gwaltney is “the best friend I remember any Goodyear plant having.”

He presented Gwaltney with a photograph of the plant, signed by key staff members. Tennyson said it’s a gift generally given to managers when they move from one plant to another.

“As far as I know, we’ve never given one to anyone not in the Goodyear organization,” he said.

Coy Harville, chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, presented Gwaltney with plaques from both the Board of Supervisors and the Danville Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority, thanking him for his service to the region.

Laurie Moran, president of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, thanked Gwaltney for not only bringing new businesses to the area, but supporting existing ones as well, while helping to rebuild a work force.

Jeremy Stratton, Danville’s director of economic development, had a framed list of all the economic development announcements that occurred during Gwaltney’s tenure.

“It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make all these things happen,” Stratton said.

Police Chief Philip Broadfoot presented Gwaltney with a letter thanking him for his support and leadership, and a commemorative department patch, noting, “We consider you part of the Danville Police Department.”

Barbara Dameron, Danville’s finance director, presented Gwaltney with his official retirement certificate, thanked him for his leadership and noted that “every step of the way, you kept your eyes on the financial strength of the city.”

Gwaltney said that while he leaves with somewhat of a heavy heart, he’s excited to be moving on to do some things he has wanted to do for years.

Gwaltney said he wants to help other governments that have problems, without the heavy day-to-day involvement a city manager has.

“I don’t want to do another budget,” he said, drawing laughs from the crowd.

Gwaltney’s wife, Gayle, has been responsible for helping with many of the beautification projects around the city, including planting many flowers.

She had the final word at the party, letting everyone there know that she expected them to keep on picking up litter and keeping Danville beautiful.

“You better not let my flowers die!” she said. “Pick up the trash, don’t put it out when it’s not supposed to go out and water the flowers!”

Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.