Phyllis Anderson shows off the T-shirt that has her winning city slogan, "The City With Spirit,'' before the Cleveland City Council on Monday.CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The winner of the city slogan contest came to the Cleveland City Council on Monday to pick up her $1,000 prize.
Her winning slogan is "The City With Spirit."
Phyllis Anderson, a Cleveland Middle School teacher, also received one of the first T-shirts with the slogan printed on it, alongside a picture of the Cherokee Chieftain sculpture.
"It literally came to me in the middle of the night," Anderson said. "So I got up and wrote it."
Hers was the only entry out of 1,827 with exactly those words.
Nearly seven months ago, the mayor announced the contest and appointed a committee to consider the entries. Several contestants had the same ideas; one person sent in 100 nominations.
The choice came down to two slogans -- "The City with Spirit" and "Home Feel, Global Appeal." The council postponed the first vote but decided on a winner two weeks ago.
The prize money was donated by private individuals, but Mayor Tom Rowland said he hopes "some of our local merchants would take advantage of the slogan and maybe reflect that in their advertising."
At least two businesses, Don Ledford Automotive and Cherokee Pharmacy, have done so.
Cherokee Pharmacy owner Terry Forshee presented the T-shirts to Anderson and the council members, too.
Contact staff writer Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.