TEXARKANA, Ark. - Friends and colleagues from both sides of the state line gathered Tuesday to heap praise on former City Manager Kenny Haskin and wish him well as he prepares to begin work as city manager of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Integrity and leadership were the watchwords among speakers at a reception at Zapata's restaurant, across the street from City Hall, where current and former elected officials and dozens more said goodbye to Haskin after his long tenure in various city government positions here.
"Texarkana's loss is Cape Girardeau's gain," several said.
"Good management is doing things the right way. Excellent leadership, however, is always doing the right things," former Ward Director Linda Teeters said. "When dealing with the city staff, the board members or citizens in the community, I always knew that you were making suggestions and decisions with much thought, research, insight, transparency, and most importantly, integrity. Your expertise and your moral compass have led our city well for the past 10 years."
Josh Davis, Bowie County, Texas, tax assessor-collector, agreed.
"I have always been told that you can truly judge a person's character by what they do when no one is looking at you. And I'm here to tell you that in all the years that I've known and worked with Dr. Haskin, he truly does the right thing all the time, every time, when no one is looking," he said.
The only reference to Haskin's abrupt departure was oblique. Haskin resigned unexpectedly April 1 after surprise meeting with the Board of Directors behind closed doors, during which raised voices and a banging gavel could be heard from outside the board chamber in City Hall.
At the reception, local business owner David Peavy seemed to sarcastically refer to Haskin's resignation.
"Kenny, you have an infectious smile. We don't need that here," Peavy said. "Even when things go bad, your smile is there and it's encouraging, but we don't need that. You have positive energy every time you enter a room. We don't need that here. You make us feel understood and respected even when you tell us no. We don't need that here," Peavy said before ending on a serious note.
"Kenny, we don't deserve you. The Lord knows you've chosen the right path for you. We're proud of you. We're proud of what you've done. Thank you for letting us know you," he said.
Visibly emotional, Haskin spoke of what Texarkana and its people mean to him.
"This is a deeply moving experience for me. You know, mom and dad passed away about three years ago. And the one thing she said to me was simply, 'That's a wonderful community in Texarkana. They have embraced you. They love you, son. You're in the right place at the right time.' But she also said that there was going to come a point in time when your time will eventually end and you will have to go on to the next level.
"Of course, Mom's laying there in the hospital, and I just didn't know if she was in or out of consciousness when she was making those statements. But now I know that those words were certainly profound.
"I will forever be grateful for everything that this community has meant and done for me. Yes, I will be in another city, but I will never forget the friends, the connections, the help and support.
"I can't begin to put into words what the staff has meant to me. I wouldn't be in the position that I am right now if not for them standing with me making sure that we do the right thing on a daily basis, having high character people in the organization. We didn't have a lot of numbers, but we have great character," he said.
"I will close by just saying this. Texarkana will always be a place that we call home."