Friendly town salutes Sollenberger

City Manager David Sollenberger was praised on the eve of his retirement as a gifted leader who made Plant City a better place during his more than seven years on the job.

Community, business and government leaders gathered Jan. 25 to bid farewell to Sollenberger, whose last day on the job was Friday. Well-wishers included a former mayor of Sarasota, where he retired as city manager before accepting the job in Plant City.

"I think we can all say that Plant City is a better place because of David Sollenberger," Plant City Mayor Rick Lott said.

Dozens of people honored Sollenberger at the reception at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. The chamber presented the avid Ohio State University sports fan with several gifts, including Buckeye memorabilia and the promise of two tickets to any Ohio State sporting event of his choosing. His wife Alise, who graduated from Ohio State, was given red roses.

Lott said the 73-year-old Sollenberger handled such stresses as hurricanes, fires and sinkholes with calm and confidence. Chamber of commerce Chairman Charles Harris said Sollenberger helped preserve the city's small-town charm despite rapid growth including annexation of thousands of acres. Harris said Sollenberger was his neighbor and found that he was a "patient and thoughtful person" both on and off the job.

Later that day, at his final city commission meeting, city officials praised him for a job well done.

"Seven and one-half years; they are a tribute to you. You have intervened with wisdom, knowledge and always a sense of humor," Commissioner Mary Yvette Thomas Mathis said.

"Your job is not easy but you made it look that way. You were always quick to get to the heart of an issue," City Attorney Ken Buchman said.

Sollenberger said at the chamber of commerce reception that he was humbled by the accolades and said he didn't go it alone. He thanked the city commissioners, whom he said never meddled in how he ran the city. He also thanked his staff members, the chamber of commerce, and Alise, his wife of 50 years whom he called "my best friend and the love of my life."

Sollenberger stepped down after 50 years in public service, including about 45 years as a city manager.

Sollenberger was the ninth city manager in the city's 125-year history. His assistant city manager, Greg Horwedel, took over the top job effective Monday.

Sollenberger was hired in Plant City as interim city manager in 2002, to replace Phil Waldron who retired on July 16, 2002, citing health reasons.

Originally, Sollenberger planned to hold the interim post for only a few months.

"That few months turned into years," said Bruce Rodwell, who emceed the chamber's farewell.

The city commissioners offered him the permanent post in late 2002. He called Plant City "the friendliest darn town I've come across" as he accepted the job.

His move to Plant City required the sacrifice of Alise, who at the time was at the height of her career at the guidance department at Sarasota High School, chamber President Marion Smith said.

Smith said the Sollenbergers became active members in the community, volunteering their time with civic groups and their church.

Lott listed a number of major projects that Sollenberger guided during his tenure, including construction of a new police station, renovation of the city wastewater plant, development of Ellis-Methvin Park and a municipal parking lot that replaced a row of downtown buildings destroyed by arson in 2005.

Sollenberger said he plans to travel after retirement, including trips to visit his grandchildren, who live in Washington and New Hampshire.

This is his second retirement; the first time was in 2001 after 15 years as Sarasota's city manager.

This time, the retirement is for good, he promises.

"I told everyone I'm not going to be like Brett Favre and come back," he said.

DAVID SOLLENBERGER

AGE: 73

EDUCATION: Bachelor's in education, University of Dayton; master's in government administration; Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

CAREER: Eighth-grade teacher, 1958-58; active duty with Army Reserve, 1959; eighth-grade teacher, 1960-61; city of Vallejo, Calif., positions that included city manager, 1963-70; Southern California Association of Governments, director of finance, 1970-72; city manager, Watsonville, Calif., 1972-74; city manager, Winona, Minn., 1974-87; city manager, Sarasota, 1987-2001; city manager, Plant City, 2002 to Sunday

SPOUSE: Alise, 50 years of marriage

TRIVIA: He was city manager in Sarasota in 1997 when the Cincinnati Reds agreed to move spring training there from Plant City Stadium; his assistant city manager, Greg Horwedel, who took his place on Monday, worked as an assistant to Sollenberger when he was the city manager of Sarasota, from 1997 to 2001.

Sollenberger started his career in 1958 as an eighth-grade teacher but in the early 1960s, he reevaluated his goals and decided to go into government administration, influenced in part by memories of a city manager who talked to his class when he was still in high school. He earned a master's degree in government administration from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1963 took a job as an intern in Vallejo, Calif., eventually working his way up to city manager. He spent most of his remaining career in city government, mainly as city manager.