Later this month, I will travel to Denver, Colorado, for an experience I never imagined when I was a young boy growing up in Clarksburg. I have been asked to serve as a juror for the prestigious All-America City Award program, sponsored by the National Civic League. It is an honor that has caused me to reflect on both the history of the program and my own journey in public service.
The All-America City Award began in 1949 and is now one of the oldest and most respected civic recognition programs in the United States. Founded with the encouragement of pollster George Gallup and other civic leaders, the award was created to recognize communities that demonstrate exceptional civic engagement, collaboration, and problem-solving. Since its inception, more than 500 communities have earned the designation, with ten winners selected each year.
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Clarksburg joined that distinguished list in 1957. At the time, I was seven years old and had little understanding of what the award meant. What I do remember is the pride it generated throughout the community. For years afterward, visitors entering our city were greeted by the familiar red, white, and blue sign proudly proclaiming Clarksburg as an “All-America City.”
Like many children, I simply accepted that sign as part of the landscape. I certainly never imagined that sixty-eight years later I would be serving on the jury that helps select the next generation of All-America Cities. Nor could I have foreseen a career that would include becoming the longest-serving city council member in Clarksburg’s history and later serving as president of the National League of Cities.
That is one of the reasons this assignment feels especially meaningful. It reminds me how local government can shape lives and how civic engagement can create opportunities that stretch far beyond what we can envision when we are young.
The selection process is far more rigorous than many people realize. Jurors begin by reviewing extensive written applications submitted by communities from across the country. These applications highlight local efforts to address important challenges through partnerships among residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies.
After the initial review, twenty finalist communities are invited to Denver. During a three-day event, each delegation presents its story to the jury. Teams often include elected officials, business leaders, nonprofit representatives, students, and neighborhood volunteers. Their presentations showcase how citizens have worked together to improve their communities and address pressing local issues.
The jury’s responsibility is both rewarding and difficult. We will listen to twenty presentations, ask questions, deliberate extensively, and ultimately narrow the field to ten winners. Every finalist arrives with a compelling story, making the final decisions challenging. The process is less about finding perfect communities and more about recognizing communities that demonstrate the power of collaboration and civic leadership.
What has always impressed me about the All-America City program is that it celebrates something often overlooked in today’s headlines: ordinary citizens working together to solve problems. The award recognizes the belief that progress occurs when people of different backgrounds and viewpoints come together around a common purpose.
As I prepare for Denver, I find myself thinking again about that sign that stood at the entrance to Clarksburg so many years ago. It represented more than an award. It symbolized community pride, civic involvement, and confidence in the future.
Those values remain as important today as they were in 1957. And as I take my place among this year’s jurors, I will carry with me the lessons I learned growing up in an All-America City and the gratitude I feel for the opportunities that civic service has provided throughout my life.
