VIDEO: Fort Payne City Council honors former-Councilman Walter Watson

VIDEO: Fort Payne City Council honors former-Councilman Walter Watson

PHOTO: Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser presents Walter Watson with a framed certificate honoring his service to the city. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)

By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor 

tyler@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video at the Bottom) In Tuesday's meeting of the Fort Payne City Council, the mayor and council honored former-Councilman Walter Watson with a framed certificate at the meeting. Watson served the City of Fort Payne for 20 years, and the city showed him their appreciation today.

Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser said to Watson, "Walter, I'm very proud to have worked with you for the last four years. I didn't know you before. I've come to know you, I've come to love you; I know that you have always had the best interest of the City of Fort Payne in your heart, and you always will. These guys have worked with you longer than I have. Everybody here knows you, and know what kind of individual you are. And, we just want to say thanks."

"These guys may have more to say, but I just want to say thanks," said Chesser.

Chesser then read aloud the certificate from the League of Municipalities: "And on behalf of the League of Municipalities, Walter Watson, Councilmember for the City of Fort Payne, for 20 years of distinguished and dedicated service to the citizens of Fort Payne, and for his efforts to strengthen municipal government and promote the importance and understanding of progressive, and responsible leadership."

Watson then remarked of the honor: "I definitely appreciate what these ladies and gentleman here are doing. When we first started out, I remember coming to the council meeting and not really know what I was doing. But after a while, we just get in there and learn, and we pull our boot-straps up and we learn. There was some difficult things that we had to do, but I found that the important thing is a team. Just building a team. Sometimes we disagree, sometimes we were mad at each other, but when we come back to the table, and we agree, the City of Fort Payne was better for it."

"I think the spirit of that still lives here, still lives in these chambers," continued Walter Watson. "And I want to encourage you guys to continue do that. From reporting, all the way up to what all you guys do. I mean I'm just honored. All the department heads, what you guys do, and the times we fuss, the times we don't have enough money, the times we stress.... But God still has a way of working things out.

I'm proud to live in Fort Payne, proud to have this, and most of all, I'm proud to have a family that I know that's going to make sure this government works well. So, God bless you guys, continue to do real good work, and when the going get's tough, just throw your hands up and praise God and give him thank Him for the things he's blessed you with. You'll feel alright about it. Thank you very much, and God bless ya'll!"

City Council President Brian Baine said of Watson, "I really appreciate the service you've given to Fort Payne, and probably about eight years ago, I think he was probably the first person that came to me, and encouraged me to run for office. Every time I would see him he would ask, 'You made your mind up yet?' and 'Are you going to run?' So, I thank you for that vision you saw in me."

Councilwoman Lynn Brewer said, "I just would like to thank you for your service. Before I was on the council, you were always so approachable, and would always listen to me no matter what I had to say. And I appreciate that. And even now you've been a good men tor. I appreciate the, 'at-a-girls' instead of, 'at-a-boys' I guess. I realize now how hard you did work. So I just thank you."

Councilman Red Taylor, who served with Watson for many years said, "I would like to thank Walter, I served with Walter eight years out of the 20 that he served. He and I had some good times, and we had some disagreements, I'm not going to say we didn't, but I reckon that's just part of the process. But Walter always had our back, and many times I heard him say that word, 'Team.' I appreciate you for it, we got your back buddy. Thank you."

"We did have a discussion, Andy and I did the other day as to who held the record for the longest time in office. And we couldn't think of anyone other than you or Johnny at the time. Johnny's got you right now, but twenty years of doing anything is great," added Mayor Chesser.

City Clerk Andy Park said, "It's a testament to Walter's intestinal fortitude that he did this for twenty years, I tell you that. I'm going to tell a funny story on Walter: Walter is my neighbor."

"Some of ya'll know where I live. And across the street there's a chert pit. And it's just about 100 feet outside of the city limits and people go target shooting. I was in town one Saturday and Walter called and said, 'Andy, there is somebody shooting a cannon in the chert pit, I want you to go over there and check it out.' I go check it out, and there is nobody there. I called him up and said, 'Walter, I'm over here.' and before I could say that, he said, 'did you tell them who you are?' and I said, 'yeah I told them I was Walter Watson's neighbor,'" Parker said to laughter from the crowd.

"Walter, you're a great man, a great friend, and I love you like a brother," said Parker.

City Attorney Rocky Watson said, remarked of Watson, "I had the privilege of sitting right next to Walter for sixteen years. Several people have mentioned since you've gone, that although Wade is learning that I don't behave as well as I did when you were sitting up here keeping me in line, and I appreciate that."

"An honest, concerned, caring individual. You couldn't name anybody that had those characteristics more than Walter did. He loved the people of this town, he loved the job he did, and I've often told him you couldn't pay me to run for city council. But he did it, he loved, he was great at it, and this town is better place, and it's going to be a better place from now on because of the work you did, Walter. I truly appreciate and admire the things you've done over the years," added Rocky Watson.

City Councilman Wade Hill said, "I appreciate everything that you've done, and this goes back in to the seventies, when you came into our community and just assimilated right into the class, and we graduated high school together, and we were the last two guys to walk down and get a diploma, because we were the tallest two guys in the class."

Hill continued, "You were a good councilman for me as a department head. You were actually my chairman a time or two. So, I appreciate everything we did and what we were able to accomplish together. We agree to disagree a few times, but it was always for the best of the city, and we always worked things out. And I appreciate the fact that you have the ability to see on down the road, because we are benefitting from that now."

"The character that you have as your foundation. As a human being, as a Godly man, and I appreciate you for that." added Hill.

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