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Administration


2012 Municipal Leader of the Year: Building a championship team

  • Written by
  • 28th November 2012
Mayor Walter Maddox created a disaster recovery plan that led Tuscaloosa, Ala., through one of the most tragic events in its history.

What is in this article?

  • 2012 Municipal Leader of the Year: Building a championship team
  • Relief efforts followed the plan
  • Leadership shines beyond disaster
  • City efforts serve as a model for the nation
Photo of Walter Maddox

City efforts serve as a model for the nation

City efforts serve as a model for the nation

Another example was the role of communications, which was always included as part of the training. “We knew with the enormous damage that the eyes of the nation would be on Tuscaloosa and that we would need to tell them everything that we knew,” he says. “We also knew that it was necessary that our attitude must project calm and hope, that we would fight through this and that we will make it.”

Since the tornado, Maddox says, he has spoken to groups all over the country on how to prepare for disaster. He has also focused on how to rebuild the city so that it is stronger than before the storm. That has involved deliberate planning, which has prompted some calls for faster redevelopment.

“We’ve been transparent and tried to involve the citizens,” he says. “It’s an organic process but Tuscaloosa has to get it right. We don’t want to build quickly so that’s it’s inadequate for a lifetime.”

Maddox is highly complimentary of his staff and appreciates the support of Gov. Robert Bentley and Witt, who are both Tuscaloosa natives. He remains focused on his vision to make Tuscaloosa a model New South City.

“We want to accomplish for our city what the football team has become: champions on the gridiron,” he says. “The best is yet to come for our community.”

Photo of Walter Maddox at a Habitat for Humanity house

Robert Barkin is a Bethesda, Md.-based freelance writer.

Leadership shines beyond disaster
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Tags: Administration Public Safety Article

One comment

  1. Avatar Anonymous 27th August 2013 @ 3:42 pm
    Reply

    I wish I could say this was
    I wish I could say this was true for all tornado victims!!!!! I think I lot of us got pushed to side to focus on the news worthy story!! I still would like to know how so many victims that I talk too says they turned to city for help only to receive lies and the run around.. But the news has no mention of these victims only the stories that make it seem like they did such a wonderful job helping victims!!!! Haha I know first hand what the city of tuscaloosa thinks about SOME of its citizens!!!

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