Curtis Adams capped off his last day as a county commissioner Thursday with a free lunch in his honor.
That's no shocker to the people who have served with him on the Hamilton County Commission during the last 22 years. His mooching of free meals from his colleagues is legendary, but so too is his dedication to his constituents and fellow commissioners, colleagues said.
Commissioner Bill Hullander rattled off a list of statistics about Mr. Adams' time on the commission: He's married 220 couples and attended more than 1,000 commission meetings.
"He's also gotten 250 free meals," Mr. Hullander said.
The commission honored Mr. Adams, 77, who currently serves as the commission chairman, in a special ceremony after a long morning of budget hearings.
Mr. Adams wistfully referred to his long years of public service throughout the budget meeting, which focused on agencies jointly funded by the county and Chattanooga.
"A lot of things we've done together have really paid off in the last 20 years," he said.
Mr. Adams joined the commission in 1988 and formerly worked at the Chattanooga Free Press and The Chattanooga Times before the papers merged. During the course of his political career, he switched parties, from Democrat to Republican.
When he leaves the commission, he won't be retiring: he'll be switching jobs. Mr. Adams said he starts as city manager of Crossville on Monday. Several representatives from the city were there Thursday to wish him well.
County Mayor Claude Ramsey proclaimed it "Commissioner Curtis Adams Day" and kicked off a long series of tributes by local politicians and the unveiling of a portrait of the perennially tanned Mr. Adams.
"We wish you the best as you move forward with your new venture," Mr. Ramsey said. "If you go about it with the same enthusiasm, you will be a great success or a short-term (manager). One or the other."
Commissioners remembered their friend as a fighter for what he believed in.
"When he takes a stance on something, he's standing there," Commissioner Greg Beck said. "When Curtis Adams speaks, it's Curtis speaking."
Mr. Adams thanked them all. He said he had differences with his fellow commissioners over the years, even Mr. Ramsey, but he said it was best to forgive and forget.
"If I'd held grudges, none of the commission would like me," he said.
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