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Red Bank’s Ledford presented TCAPWA Murphy Snoderly Award

Murphy Snoderly
Red Bank’s Johnny Ledford was the recipient of the 2023 Murphy Snoderly Award given by the TCAPWA at TML’s 83rd Annual Conference in Nashville. Ledford has been with the city of Red Bank for more than 30 years. From left to right, TNPWA Chapter Administrator and Pigeon Forge Director of Public Works Mark Miller, Chattanooga Public Works Constituent Services Coordinator and TNPWA Vice President Kimberly Strong, Red Bank Heavy Equipment Operator Johnny Ledford, Red Bank Public Works Director Greg Tate, and Red Bank Vice Mayor Stefanie Dalton.

By LISA HOOD SKINNER

Tennessee Public Works

A City of Red Bank heavy equipment operator with more than three decades of Public Works service and a “never quit” attitude, Johnny Ledford is the winner of this year’s TCAPWA Murphy Snoderly Award. 

Greg Tate, City of Red Bank Public Works Director calls Ledford a “Jack of All Trades” who is a true asset to the city and “the type of employee you wish you had an army of.” 

“Ledford began his municipal service with the City of Red Bank as a part-time laborer installing sewer lines. After approximately one year of part-time service, he was hired as a regular employee of the city. With his 31 years of municipal service with the city, he has progressed from a laborer to a heavy-equipment operator,” Tate said. 

“What truly sets him apart is his ability to complete any task presented to him,” he said. “Whether it is carpentry, masonry, welding, operating a bucket truck from heights to driving commercial vehicles, he has a drive to succeed.” 

In fact, Tate said that Ledford “has become a utility player over the years and is often used to fill in for critical positions such as a solid waste driver operating garbage trucks and brush trucks in others’ absence. He is TDEC Level 1 certified in Storm Water Management and he can perform the duties of any other job that is needed and critical for the city’s daily operations.” 

“He is well respected by his peers as well as his supervisor and myself. He is a great benefit for municipal operations and one person who is able to get the job done,” Tate said.  

Each year the Tennessee Chapter presents the Murphy Snoderly Award to a deserving Public Works employee within the state. The recipient of this award must be an operation level or “working person” employee. Murphy Snoderly, for whom the award is named, was a long-time engineering and Public Works consultant for the state Municipal Technical Advisory Service.  

Snoderly felt the working person, the man or woman who day in and day out picks up garbage or patches streets or performs dozens of other chores at a relatively low pay scale, should be recognized for dedication and service to the community.  

The award is presented annually at the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) Conference, held this year in Nashville at the Renaissance Downtown Nashville Hotel. It was presented July 25 to Ledford by Kimberly Strong, TCAPWA Vice President and Awards Chair, and Mark Miller, TCAPWA Chapter Administrator at the TML Awards Breakfast. 

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