Maryville honors longtime employee's decades of service

Maryville officials honored a city employee with 41 years of behind-the-scenes service during a City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Aug. 6. Doug Strickland, who keeps the city streets clean, has been with the city of Maryville since he was 18 years old.

Strickland, city staff wrote in a release that day, has been presented the prestigious Murphy Snoderly Award by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The award is an annual recognition for public works employees in local governments, chosen from over 350 nominees.

Maryville Assistant Public Works Director Tim Phillips told the council Tuesday that he nominated Strickland because of his dedication, love for his job and willingness to serve. He said he was proud to not only be Strickland’s supervisor but also his friend.

“No matter what Doug is asked to do, he gives it his best effort whether it’s snow removal, paving, or his current job, street sweeping. ‘Yes sir, I will take care of it,’ is his reply when I need him to do something, and being a man of his word, he will 100% take care of it,” Phillips said in a statement.

According to a release from the city of Maryville, Strickland began his career with the city as a sanitation collection worker in 1981 and now serves as a heavy equipment operator in the Engineering and Public Works Department.

“These days, Doug sweeps curbed streets five days a week if the temperature is at 32 degrees or higher.

His days are spent in our subdivisions and neighborhoods and on Thursday and Sunday nights he can be found sweeping the busy state roads within the city limits,” city staff wrote in a release. Strickland also responds to the scene of wrecks and road spills to keep the city streets clean and safe.

On Tuesday, he said he was grateful for “a great place to live, raise my family, and more than that, a great place to work.”