TEAMWORK AWARDS PRESENTED AT ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

LAWRENCE –Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Holiday Luncheon and Teamwork Recognition Friday, Dec. 13.  During the luncheon, the Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Awards were also presented.

The Tom Wilkerson Teamwork Award, established in 1999, has three categories: category I and II are for an individual or group of employees who exemplify teamwork in both full-time and part-time capacities; the third is given to an outside agency or city department, individual or group who has assisted the department in obtaining success. The category II award was added in 2004 to recognize part-time employees.

Receiving this year’s teamwork award for category I (full-time employees) included: the Landscaping/Forestry Division, which includes: Crystal Miles, manager;  Rodney Croucher, field supervisor; Mike Perryman, forester and Justin Ukena, horticulturist II, for designing and installing the holiday lighting on the train in Watson Park.

Receiving teamwork awards for category II (part-time employees) this year included: Bob Case and Allen Winter, adult sports softball officials, for their assistance to the Adult Sports Division in the hiring and training of officials; Stephen Mason, former intern and part-time employee for the department for going beyond his duties as an intern to help out several areas of the department; and Pat Middaugh and Melanie Johnson, fitness instructors, for their extra work they put in as fitness instructors.

Receiving teamwork awards for category III (other groups or individuals) included: Mary Alexander, office manager,  and Kerry Wheeler, ground keeper, for their support in accommodating LPRD’s larger events at the Douglas County Fairgrounds; Cynthia Colbert for her assistance to all LPRD supervisors in improving the hiring process for seasonal employees; and Public Works employees Bryce Campbell, field supervisor,  Howard Clark, senior maintenance worker, Steve Demarnville, senior maintenance worker;  Mike Hadl, senior maintenance worker;  Terry Harmon, senior maintenance worker;  Willard Holladay, senior maintenance worker;  Blane Jacobs, senior maintenance worker;   Mike Perkins, street division manager, Caleb Pettengill, maintenance worker;  Mike Scruggs, maintenance worker  and Arlie Watts, maintenance worker, for their teamwork with LPRD District No. 3 staff  in beautifying Downtown Lawrence.

Cullen “Z” Holland, horticulturist II, was also recognized for a little more than 30 years of service to the City of Lawrence upon his retirement.

The Teamwork Award was renamed in 2002 to honor Tom Wilkerson who served as assistant director of the department until his retirement in October 2002.