Longtime Public Works Employee Retires After 41 Years
Ronnie Hammonds, a dedicated member of Kingsport’s Public Works team, recently announced his plans to retire this December.
When Hammonds started with the City of Kingsport in November of 1978, the city limits were generally contained within John B. Dennis and Stone Drive and the city population was about 31,000.
Starting in the engineering division, Hammonds worked out of City Hall where he met Rose, his wife of almost 39 years. He then transitioned to asphalt foreman, followed by public works specialist and finally was placed in the role of Streets & Sanitation Manager. Under his leadership, the city has been able to progress in many areas that have enhanced the service level while maintaining or lowering the cost and improving employee safety, such as automated waste collection.
Over the years, Hammonds has won various accolades from the American Public Works Association including the Roger Clark Award in 2007, the Larry Eddins Award in 2009 and finally the Public Works Man of the Year for Tennessee in 2014.
“It’s difficult to think about our public works department without Ronnie Hammonds,” said Ryan McReynolds, deputy city manager. “He’s dedicated his time, talents and knowledge to Kingsport over the past four decades.”
His retirement plans include spending time not only with Rose, but also with his 3-year-old granddaughter Grace.