City Manager Ed Thatcher and wife Debbie Named 2022 Public Administrators of the Year

The North Texas Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration has named Ed Thatcher and his wife, Debbie, the 2022 Public Administrators of the Year.

This is the first time in the award’s 49-year history that it has been presented as a joint award. The presentation took place April 19 at the University of North Texas following a panel discussion by Thatcher and five of his sons who are also in public service. The session provided students and guests a unique look into city management through the eyes of six family members.

“This award has been presented annually since 1973 to some heavy hitters in our profession,” said Dr. Abraham D. Benavides, president of the North Texas Chapter of ASPA. “But this is the first time it’s been presented to a couple, a team. Debbie deserves this recognition just as much as Ed for her countless sacrifices in sustaining the family. Ed could not have achieved all that he has without her beside him helping to raise six boys, five of whom have followed his footsteps into public service.”

The NTASPA began selecting a “North Texas Public Administrator of the Year” in 1974. The first recipient was William Pitstick, who shaped the community as a leader for the emerging council government movement in the seventies. Past recipients also Tom Vandergriff, who served in Congress and as Tarrant County Judge, Dr. Ron Anderson, former CEO of Parkland Hospital, and North Texas legendary City Managers such as George Schrader, Ted Benavides and Greg Vick.

The Thatchers sons in public service are Ben, City Manager City of Boerne; Jon, City Attorney City of Fate; Chris, Director of Customer Relations, City of Melissa; Cameron, Associate Director – Public Finance Huntington Capital Markets; and Logan, Assistant to the City Manager City of Richland Hills. The Thatcher’s sixth son, Joshua is an Interventional Neuroradiologist in Dallas. Debbie was a public school teacher until retiring in 2018.

Born and raised in rural Idaho, Thatcher came from a hard-working and humble background that shaped the way he has served seven cities during a 40-year career. While working in the fields from dawn to dark during the summer and on weekends, he watched other teenagers fly down the dirt road to town in their trucks for more fun than he was having, and he vowed to get an education and a job with better hours.

Thatcher left home for Brigham Young University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public Administration, and met the love of his life, Debbie. To earn money to help pay for college, Thatcher worked many jobs including summer farm work and as a rodeo clown, risking his own neck to help others. This foreshadowed the kind of leader Thatcher would become as he was tasked with being a changemaker in each city administrative position held; a role that takes not only professional expertise, but the courage to put your word and reputation on the line to make the organization and city a better place.

Thatcher stands out in the field for achieving long tenures in a position that typically turns over every three to four years as city councils change. He was City Manager of Greenville for 14 years, and City Manager of Heath for 14 years before retiring in 2019.  He was recruited back to work within a few months by the City of Mount Pleasant, where he is currently City Manager.

“This is one of the highest awards that can be earned in the public administration profession, and we are very proud that Ed and Debbie have received this honor,” said City of Mount Pleasant Mayor Tracy Craig, Sr. “Since serving our City, Ed has made significant, positive changes that benefit our citizens and will make our community better and stronger in the years to come.”

“I have loved being a city manager because there is no form of government where you are closer to the people you serve,” said Thatcher.  “You and your team can make a meaningful difference in the lives of your citizens and the community,”

Thatcher has been recognized as Administrator of the Year by the George Romney Institute of Public Affairs at BYU. He is a Lifetime Member of the International City Managers Association (ICMA) and the Texas City Managers Association (TCMA). Thatcher has also been a Scout Master, with all of his sons achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and continues to be a member of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Posse.

“Ed and Debbie are outstanding recipients of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award,” said John Ratcliffe, who hired Thatcher as City Manager while he was Mayor of Heath before going on to be elected to Congress by the 4th District and appointed National Director of Intelligence. “It has been an honor to know and work with Ed. His legacy as a city manager, a husband, a father and a grandfather is truly an American success story.”

The American Society for Public Administration is the largest and most prominent professional association for public administration.