Metro Mayor Service Awards honors about 150 long-serving Nashville employees; one marks 50 years

Metro Nashville honored long-serving city employees at the Metro Mayor Service Awards, recognizing roughly 150 staff members who have reached 30 or more years of service across 25 departments.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell opened his remarks by thanking employees for their long-term public service and highlighting the scale of the milestones. "This is truly one of my favorite days of the year," O'Connell said, adding that the honorees show the importance of public‑service continuity and customer service in city government. He noted that the honorees represent a cross-section of Metro departments and said the city is "forever grateful" for their dedication.

Before the mayor spoke, longtime Metro employee Ron Denton led an invocation that asked for guidance for city leaders and staff. "We are such a divided people that we needed help today," Denton said during his prayer.

The program proceeded alphabetically by department. Departments and individual employees were called forward to receive awards and photographs; examples named during the ceremony included George Rooker Jr. (planning commission, 45 years), multiple Nashville Fire Department and Metro Police Department members with 30–40 years of service, and agency staff from Metro Water Services, Metro Public Health, and others. The host singled out Barbara Wise of the Criminal Court Clerk's office as the golden‑anniversary honoree celebrating 50 years of service to Metro.

Organizers asked honorees and guests to stay for a reception and breakfast after the ceremony. The event was produced by Metro Nashville Network; the broadcast credit directed viewers seeking the program or more information to nashville.gov.

No formal votes or policy actions were taken at the ceremony; it was an official recognition event and closed after the awards and reception invitation.