5 minute read
COVER STORY
Heart of the City
Mayor Ronnie Spradlin works to better Kilgore
BY LUCAS STROUGH | lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com PHOTOS BY LES HASSELL
CONTIUNED ON PAGE 8
Kilgore's event calendar is packed year-round, with activities and programs happening nearly every weekend. Attend just a few of these events, and you'll start to notice a familiar face: Mayor Ronnie Spradlin.
Spradlin can be seen at nearly every event which happens in Kilgore, from business openings to fireworks shows and Rangerette performances. He reads declarations to congratulate hard-working citizens, helps lead the Christmas parade and dresses up for all sorts of occasions — all while managing the usual duties of his mayoral position.
It's clear he loves Kilgore, and becoming its mayor is the realization of a longtime goal. He first became mayor in 2010 when a special election was held.
“I remember meeting the mayor when I was 12 or so and thinking I would like to be that some day,” Spradlin said.
“I ran for mayor to keep the city moving in the right direction and ensure that Kilgore Economic Development Corporation (that I campaigned to establish) would continue to diversify our industrial base so we were not sensitive to energy downturns.”
Kilgore has changed in many ways since Spradlin was elected, and his time as mayor has seen the city grow and develop while still maintaining a strong link to its roots in the hardworking spirit of the East Texas Oil Boom.
“Since being elected, I have seen the diversified steady growth of retail and industry,” he said.
“Many old structures have been replaced with newer, bigger ones that add to our tax base. Synergy Park continues to fill up with new industry and many existing industries have prospered and grown.”
Even though the last few years have been challenging, as Kilgoreites and people all over the world dealt with lockdowns, supply shortages and economic uncertainty, Spradlin said Kilgore has managed to become even better in spite of these difficulties.
“We all hated to see Halliburton leave Kilgore,” he said, “but
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1. Kilgore mayor Ronnie Spradlin hands out candy canes to shoppers at Downtown Kilgore’s Mingle and Jingle. 2. Mayor Ronnie Spradlin speaks at the "A Very Derrick Christmas" 25th Annual Lighting of the Derricks event in downtown Kilgore. 3. Mayor Ronnie Spradlin reads a proclaimation honoring Charles Miller at the 25th annual Christmas in the Patch in 2012 in downtown Kilgore. 4. City of Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin delivers a meal to Syvester Jackson, right, as part of the Mayors For Meals 2011 through Meals on Wheels in Kilgore. 5. Mayor Ronnie Spradlin leads the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at the City of Kilgore's Fourth of July Extravaganza at the City Park in 2018.
I think we were all surprised when we continued to experience growth in spite of their departure and the COVID quarantines.”
As mayor, Spradlin has seen many memorable events here in Kilgore, but two events in particular stand out to him as emblematic of the spirit of this city and its people.
“The greatest memories I have are the two times we had the incredible community send-offs for our National Guard Unit going overseas. I don’t think anything like that has been done anywhere in the country. A captain there told me, ‘Mayor, you know a community can do things a city cannot do.’ I’ve always been proud that when a call goes out or a need exists, Kilgore meets the challenge.”
Now, Kilgore is poised to continue its forward progress, as the city grows and adds new amenities and landmarks. Even with the economic challenges of the last few years, new businesses have opened, a new high school will soon be constructed and new opportunities for students, workers and families have been added.
“The city now has long range plans and a very good assessment of priorities of needed improvements and repairs,” Spradlin said.
“As funds become available, we know what we need to do next. At the same time we have used grants, matching funds and donations of funds and labor to vastly improve the amenities and quality of life projects at little cost to the citizens. The walking trails, spray park, skate board park and mountain bike trails were all done with very few taxpayer dollars. I think we all take even greater pride in that which we do for ourselves.”
YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE IN SELECT HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS! FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.KILGORE.EDU/ TRUE-GRANT OR SCAN QR CODE ELIGIBLE COURSE PATHWAYS FOR GRANT-FUNDED STUDENT ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: • PHARMACY TECHNICIAN • PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN • CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE • PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN • ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH TECHNICIAN YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE IN SELECT HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS! FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.KILGORE.EDU/ TRUE-GRANT OR SCAN QR CODE ELIGIBLE COURSE PATHWAYS FOR GRANT-FUNDED STUDENT ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: • PHARMACY TECHNICIAN • PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN • CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE • PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN • ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH TECHNICIAN • MEDICAL CODING YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE IN SELECT HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS! FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.KILGORE.EDU/ TRUE-GRANT OR SCAN QR CODE ELIGIBLE COURSE PATHWAYS FOR GRANT-FUNDED STUDENT ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: • PHARMACY TECHNICIAN • PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIAN • CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE • PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN • ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH TECHNICIAN • MEDICAL CODING • MEDICAL CODING
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