Troup County’s employee service award ceremony Tuesday honored the hard work of employees from across the county, but the most notable of the group was an elected official who has spent 40 years serving those who elected him.

Commissioner Richard English was honored for 40 years of service to the county, the longest time for anyone honored in the 2018 first quarter awards. First elected to the Troup County Board of Commissioners in 1978, English is the only African American to serve on the board.

“It is quite an honor for someone to receive 40 years of service to their government, especially when they have to be voted on by the people,” Commission Chairman Patrick Crews said. “It is not something where you are selected and you come to work here and your job skills keep you in your job. You’ve got to go back before the public and be voted in every time, so that is very special.”

Like any governing body, the members of the Troup County Board of Commissioners do not agree on every vote, but English is generally respected for his experience on the commission. His knowledge of past board decisions and their reasons has been employed on several occasions to evaluate what has and has not worked in the past.

“It has been a great, great honor for me to serve the citizens of Troup County and the State of Georgia, and I have enjoyed every moment of it,” English said. “There have been some ups and downs and some arounds, but I’ve been able to weather all of them. And, I am going to continue to do that.”

English is a U.S. Army veteran who currently works as an independent contractor. The Community Action for Improvement Organization named its administrative facility after him in 2001 in recognition of his service to the community, and he serves on numerous state and local boards. He will be listed on the ballot for the May 22 primary, but no one from either party has registered to run against him.

“I just qualified to run for another four years, and I don’t have any opposition,” English said.

“Thank you to the citizens of Troup County and my lovely wife, Cheris. I will be around with y’all for a little while longer to help you, and that is what I am here for — to help make life better for all the citizens of Troup County.”

Also recognized at the award ceremony were Captain Robert Huckleberry of the Troup County Sheriff’s Office for 35 years of service, Fire Chief and EMA Director Dennis Knight for 30 years of service, Sheriff James Woodruff for 25 years of service and Battalion Chief Michael Williams Jr. of Troup County Fire & Rescue for 25 years.

20 years of service:

Parks maintenance superintendent Anthony Turner of Troup County Parks and Recreation

Firefighter, EMT Rodney Evans of Troup County Fire & Rescue

Captain Franklin Butler of TCSO

10 years of service:

Deputy Ronald Traylor of TCSO

Deputy Norman Stiehl Jr. of TCSO

Communications shift supervisor Danielle Howard of E-911 Communications

Corporal Samuel Lacy Jr. of TCSO

Firefighter, EMT Christian French of Troup County Fire & Rescue

5 years of service:

Chief Deputy Jonathan Whiney of TCSO

Senior deputy clerk Karen Tucker of probate court

Roads maintenance worker Christopher Maddox of Troup County Roads and Engineering

Parks maintenance crew leader David Duke of Troup County Parks and Recreation

Appraisal technician Brenda Cadenhead of property appraisal

Administrative assistant Joy Burnham of TCSO

Deputy Charles Belcher of TCSO