- FAST FACTS:
- Herenton makes good on promise to leave office
- Hall of Mayors packed with supporters to listen to his farewell speech
- Herenton says he was a "fantastic" mayor
tom.powell@wreg.com
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(MEMPHIS July 30, 2009 9:25 PM) -- Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton left office Thursday, giving a farewell speech to a Hall of Mayors packed with supporters, reporters and photographers.
"I've been a fantastic mayor," Herenton said. "You know to come behind me, it's going to be a hard act."
Herenton talked about being recruited to run for Mayor of Memphis back in 1991 at the People's Convention. He won the election that year, and the next four, breaking the racial barrier at City Hall. He was the first African American Mayor in Memphis which became a city in 1826.
Herenton spent several minutes talking about his childhood in South Memphis. He spoke about riding a bus in the early morning hours to pick cotton, only to return again when it was dark out, bringing home only three dollars for his 12 hours of work.
He says his youth taught him the value of hard work, an attitude he brought to his office each day.
No doubt there are Memphians who were looking forward to the day Herenton would leave office. He addressed the folks he calls "haters" during his speech. He says he's simply been misunderstood.
Herenton also repeated what will become his campaign slogan as he trys to unseat current Congressman Steve Cohen in the 9th Congressional District. Herenton says he's always been one to "Keep it Real."
"Some people call that ghetto," he says. "You may not understand that, but the people I communicate with, they know what that means."
The reception started with speakers who mixed praise with humor. They talked about the mayor's accomplishments, and said they enjoyed working with him over the past 18 years.
Now, Council Chairman Myron Lowery will be the first to follow Herenton's act. He met with the mayor on the 7th floor of city hall, where he'll begin serving as Mayor Pro-tem at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Lowery says he won't be simply keeping the seat warm.
