MAYOR THOMAS M. LEIGHTON RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF MAYOR LEE NAMEY The City of Wilkes-Barre mourns the loss today of the Honorable Mayor Lee Namey, a dedicated public servant whose career spanned decades. A lifelong resident of the city, Mayor Namey was a tireless champion for Wilkes-Barre and the greater Wyoming Valley. Mayor Namey graduated from Wilkes College in 1968 and also received a master of fine arts degree from Marywood University. He was heavily involved with the South Wilkes-Barre Urban Renewal Committee in the wake of the 1972 Agnes Flood. He was first elected to city council in 1975 and was reelected three times. He completed two terms as council chairman. In 1987, he was elected mayor. Mayor Namey faithfully served the people of Wilkes-Barre in its highest office from 1988-1996. His impact upon the city still reverberates today. He consolidated the Department of Public Works and Recreation Departments into a new facility on Conygham Avenue. That facility remains in operation today. Mayor Namey is credited for the city’s garbage bag program that is still active today. He was an avid proponent of modernizing the downtown streetscape to encourage business and residential development and he was committed to fiscal responsibility. Mayor Namey left behind a budget surplus when he left office in 1996. While he retired from elected office, he did not retire from the community. He remained an integral part of various community organizations such as the United Way of Wyoming Valley, Wilkes University, and the F.M. Kirby Center to name a few. “I had the privilege to work with Mayor Namey during my first term on city council,” said Mayor Thomas M. Leighton, “He was a sincere and forthright leader that truly made a difference in Wilkes-Barre. He leaves behind a legacy of service to his community and devotion to his friends and family.”
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 21:28:56 +0000
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