ROCKINGHAM — Steve Morris received a standing ovation Tuesday night before adjourning his final meeting of the City Council.
The former owner of Helms Jewelers, Morris served on the Rockingham City Council for four years in the late ‘70s and decided not to run again. He rejoined the council in 2000 and was appointed mayor in 2013 to fill the unexpired term of Gene McLaurin, who was elected to the N.C. Senate.
His total time in city government has been 25 years — “one-third of my life” — and Morris said he’s “enjoyed almost every moment of it.”
Morris was emotional as he thanked those with whom he’s served over the years, in addition to the voters who kept him in office.
“I want to thank the entire staff for their commitment to excellence in providing and delivering city services to the residents in an efficient and professional way,” Morris said.
The outgoing mayor also gave special thanks to City Manager Monty Crump and Assistant City Manager John Massey “as I spent more of my time working closely with them.”
“The city of Rockingham is indeed fortunate to have two professionals on our staff with their education, their experience, their longevity and their commitment to our city,” Morris said. “There’s no doubt that they’ve had many opportunities in their careers to move on to larger cities, but they chose to remain in Rockingham and work with great people that make their homes here.
“They have the ability to take on a very difficult task and make it look very easy, as they have done on multiple occasions … they’ve made me and the entire council look good, and we all appreciate that.”
Morris also thanked his wife Cynthia for her unwavering support over the years.
“She’s been with me the entire way; not one to suggest and tell me what I ought to do, but, certainly, encourage me to always be honest, be fair, and keep our citizens in mind,” Morris said. “And she still has that same desire for the city of Rockingham to keep moving forward.”
Thanking residents for their past votes, Morris said it’s “been a great nine years and an honor” to serve as mayor.
Mayor Pro Tem John Hutchinson was elected the new mayor last week in a three-way race with Morris and Michael McRae, who was also at Tuesday’s meeting.
Morris also congratulated council members Anne Edwards, Denise Sullivan and Gene Willard on winning their reelection bids.
“I wish you great success — all of you — to continue to lead our city into the future.”
Hutchinson also congratulated his fellow council members for winning the election.
“Stability has been a really important part of Rockingham’s government for many years and that’s why we’ve been able to accomplish so much,” Hutchinson said, adding there will be a few changes over the couple of months, before directing his comments to Morris.
“Steve, you have given 25 years … to Rockingham government and that’s been a tremendous thing for Rockingham and I think we all really appreciate that,” Hutchinson continued. “Certainly, you’ve given more than that in service to the community through business and your volunteer work — just a tremendous career here in Rockingham that we all respect and admire.
“And I think with all of that in your background, you may well be somebody that we’re calling on from time to time with questions on issues that come up and we hope that you’ll always be there when we need that piece of advice or that wisdom of somebody that went through it somewhere along the way in his career, either in government or in business.”
Morris quipped that he bought a cemetery plot and is staying here.
The four members will be sworn in next month.
Hutchinson said he will be using a Bible that’s been in his family since the 1830s and once belonged to two of his ancestors — William Crawford and Samuel Terry — who served as sheriff in the 1800s.
Mayor-elect John Hutchinson, left, thanks outgoing Mayor Steve Morris for his 25 years of service on the Rockingham City Council.
