[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 34 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE CAREER OF RON WHITEHEAD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 28, 2014

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ron Whitehead the 
city manager of Addison, Texas, who is retiring today, February 28, 
after nearly 32 years of service for the Town of Addison and over a 
decade more in other Texas municipalities.
  Mr. Whitehead was raised in Orange, Texas, where he learned about 
city management from his father who was a city councilman and mayor. He 
participated in student government and graduated Stark High School in 
1967. After graduating from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a 
degree in Government in 1971, he started interning for the City of 
Beaumont and eventually became the assistant director of personnel. Mr. 
Whitehead began work as the administrative assistant to the city 
manager in Irving, Texas, in 1974 and in 1977 became the assistant city 
manager for administration. He earned his Masters in Public 
Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1980 and 
became the general supervisory assistant city manager in Irving the 
following year.
  In June of 1982, Mr. Whitehead became the city manager of Addison and 
he has served that role until today. Over the decades, Mr. Whitehead 
helped Addison transform from a small town with a handful of businesses 
to a bustling center with approximately 1,600 registered businesses. In 
1982 there were 200 family households in Addison, and today the 
population numbers 15,000. Today Addison has 260 full-time employees 
and an annual budget of $60 million. As city manager, Mr. Whitehead 
helped build up the modern city with multiple projects such as Wheeler 
Bridge, Addison Circle, Vitruvian Park, and the Addison Airport Toll 
Tunnel. The Dallas North Tollway came through Addison during his tenure 
as well. Future projects that the city will continue to develop include 
work on Addison Airport, a pedestrian connectivity effort, and 
underground utilities along Belt Line Road.
  His long-standing passion for people, service, and making a 
difference have earned Mr. Whitehead many board positions and awards 
during his 32 years in Addison. In 2006 he received the Texas City 
Management Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009 he was 
named Metrocrest Citizen of the Year by the Metrocrest Chamber of 
Commerce, which represents Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Addison, 
Texas. He earned the William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award in 
2013 and was commended for his strong commitment to regionalism and 
collaboration with neighboring cities with regard to transportation, 
services, art, and planning. Mr. Whitehead has also been the recipient 
of a distinguished alumni award from the University of North Texas, the 
L.P. Cookingham Award for Career Development from the International 
City Management Association (ICMA), as well as recognition from the 
ICMA on his 35th anniversary of municipal service. Among his roles in 
numerous associations, he has been particularly active in the Greater 
Dallas Planning Council, the North Texas City Management Association, 
the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and the Metroplex Mayors 
Association.
  Mr. Whitehead has been married to his wife Donna for 27 years and 
they have two daughters, Maxey and Lauren. Donna is an elementary 
school music teacher in Good Shepherd Episcopal School and also plans 
to retire soon. They are involved in church and civic activities, and 
intend to travel together in the coming years.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I 
ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Ron 
Whitehead on his 32 years of service as city manager of Addison and 
wishing him well in retirement.

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