City honors long-time mayor with retirement reception | News

TROY – City leaders and the community will honor its retiring mayor with a community-wide retirement program and reception on Monday, Oct. 29.                                                                                              

The reception to honor Mayor Jimmy Lunsford will be 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. in the Troy Municipal Complex on Elm Street with the formal program beginning at 5:15 p.m. The event will be hosted by WSFA’s Today in Alabama host Tonya Terry.

“I certainly encourage all citizens to attend this special reception for Mayor Lunsford,” said City Council President Johnny Witherington, who has served with Lunsford since the early 1980’s.

“He has been a great mayor, and this will be an opportunity to express our appreciation and thanks to him. He has surely earned it,” he said.

Lunsford served as one of three city commissioners from 1982-1985, and has served as mayor since 1985 when the city shifted its form of government.

A retired Alabama National Guard major, he attended the University of Alabama and Auburn University Montgomery before joining the Alabama Development Office. After leaving ADO, Lunsford entered the life and health insurance business, serving 28 years in the Troy area. In addition to his civic and political duties, he has served on the Board of Trustees of the Troy Regional Medical Center and on the Board of Directors of Southeast Alabama Gas District in addition to his service on a number of statewide governmental boards and agencies.

Married to the former Faye Stephens, the Lunsford’s have two adult children and three grandchildren.

Lunsford’s 30-year tenure as mayor has been marked by economic and community growth, including the recruitment of several key industries such as CGI, Lockheed Martin, KW Can, Lowe’s, Miltope, Sikorsky Support Services, and by the expansion of existing industries. He led a push to increase recreational opportunities that culminated in the construction of a modern sportsplex facility, a larger library, a senior center complex and the establishment of several parks and walking trails.

He was instrumental in the negotiation of the sale of then-Edge Regional Medical Center that resulted in the establishment of a $15 million trust fund to benefit the citizens of Troy, constructed a state-of-the-art elementary school and strengthened the city’s partnership with Troy University.

Monday’s retirement program will include presentations by state, local and University officials, and is planned as an outdoor ceremony.

The block of Elm Street adjacent to the Troy Police Department will be closed beginning at 1 p.m., with the intersection of South Brundidge and Elm streets closing at 5 p.m.

Parking will be available in downtown public parking areas, the Troy Public Library, Troy Municipal Court, Troy City Hall and the Johnson Center for the Arts. Handicap parking will be available on Elm Street and in the Gibson & Carden parking lot.

Information Source: City of Troy