Mayor Spradlin read an official proclamation in longtime City Manager Josh Selleck’s honor, declaring Aug. 27 “Josh Selleck Day” in the city in honor of Selleck’s retirement after nine and a half years of city service. (Lucas Strough/Kilgore News Herald)

KILGORE — Kilgore’s longtime City Manager Josh Selleck was applauded for nearly a decade of service to Kilgore at his final city council meeting before stepping down from the role he’s held for nearly a decade.

Selleck announced his intention to retire from the city manager position over a year but set a date earlier this month. He will be operating Vanguard Trailworks, a local mountain bike trail-building business, full-time after leaving city service.

Mayor Ronnie Spradlin praised Selleck’s contributions to the city over the years, recalling times when the city manager operated heavy equipment to clear roads during a snowstorm or when he waded into waist-deep water to help repair a water leak.

“Josh has been here for nine and a half years,” Spradlin said.

“He has had an impact on Kilgore, both in his job as city manager and in his volunteering on the bike trails, to putting sheetrock in the Texan to starting and envisioning fireworks on the Fourth of July which most of us couldn’t envision, to Oktoberfest complete with lederhosen. There’s just so many things he has impacted in our town on top of what he’s done as city manager. As an individual, as a citizen of Kilgore, as a parent and a husband and a leader in Kilgore. We’re so thankful for everything that he has done.”

Selleck has been city manager of Kilgore since March 2015. He was previously employed as an assistant city manager for Cedar Park. He also served roles previously as director of finance, budget manager and budget analyst. Selleck holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree of public administration and a master’s degree of science in finance from Texas Tech University.

Selleck created and oversaw many initiatives and major city projects during his near-decade long tenure in the city manager post. These include the construction of the Creekside Trail, the city’s Oktoberfest celebration, the Main Street project and the renovation of cherished city landmarks including the Texan Theater.

Spradlin read an official proclamation in Selleck’s honor, declaring Aug. 27 “Josh Selleck Day” in the city.

Selleck acknowledged the help he received from other city staff and council members on all the projects he worked on over the years. He also thanked his wife Elsa and his two children.

“Nobody here ever worked for me,” Selleck said.

“Everybody here worked with me. That’s not to brag, but I think it’s critical and we all worked together. The community knew what they wanted and the council knew that they wanted to provide it. This has been the greatest honor of my life, to get to follow a well-laid out path, to get to work with some amazing people. Y’all gave so much latitude and you gave us so much flexibility and freedom to figure out how to get things done. I want to thank you all for what has been the absolute honor and opportunity of my life.”