BY MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
The city’s next mayor, with his wife Terri Lou beside him, took the oath of office Friday morning in Council Chambers at Glasgow City Hall.
Glasgow Mayor-elect Henry Royse, from left, takes the oath of office as his wife, Terri Lou Royse, holds the Bible on which he placed his hand and District Judge Gabe Pendleton administers the oath. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
The oath was administered by District Judge Gabe Pendleton, who proceeded to then swear in the group of council members who will begin their two-year terms Jan. 1 alongside Mayor Henry Royse, as he begins a four-year term.
Eight of the nine council members were incumbents — Freddie Norris, Marlin Witcher, Terry Bunnell, Marna Kirkpatrick, Chasity Lowery, Joe Trigg, Patrick Gaunce and James Neal, and they’ll be joined by newcomer Max Marion.
“I want to thank each and every one of you all for being here today for making a wonderful day even more special by taking the time to be here as we move forward with the City of Glasgow,” Royse said once the ceremonial duties were completed. “This is an exciting time in our history.”
Former Glasgow Mayor Dick Doty greets Mayor-elect Henry Royse prior to the swearing-in ceremony Friday for Royse and the Glasgow Common Council members beginning terms in 2023. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
Royse said he wanted to make sure everyone knew who the council members were because they are very important to what happens in the city, and introduced each, starting with Marion.
“I am honored to be able to serve with these folks, and I’m really tickled they they are willing to serve in this capacity, because you can’t imagine how huge of a job it is, the operation of this city, and we are in good shape having these folks up here.
He proceeded to ask all city employees to stand, or to come forward if they were already standing, stating that they are “one of the most important pieces of this puzzle that’s called city government.”
Royse said he’s been trying to meet the employees and learn about what they do and where to go for different things.
“This is a gigantic learning curve, I can tell ya …,” he said. “I just get so pumped up thinking about getting ready to start and take care of city business.”
In addition to having a crowd standing along one side and at the back of the room, the vast majority of the audience seats in the room were occupied. Among those in attendance were current Mayor Harold Armstrong and two former mayors – Dick Doty and Darrell Pickett.
Royse said he appreciated everyone’s presence as it signaled their support “for a community that we all love and for a community that really is on the grow.”
Local physician Bharat Mody, from left, speaks with Max Marion, who will be the only new member of Glasgow’s city council next year, after the oath of office was administered to the 2023-24 council members Friday. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
He encouraged all to mingle and talk with anyone they may have wanted to meet.
Norris asked Royse to first introduce the members of his family in attendance. In addition to his wife, they included his daughter; his son, daughter-in-law and grandson; his brother and sister-in-law; and his cousin, Ledean Hamilton, who signed his candidate papers with him as a witness, he said.
“Everybody in this room is special to me,” Royse said. “I could go through here; I could name everybody in here and tell you why that I think so much of them, if that gives you the way I feel right now having everybody in the room.”
Royse said he was really anxious to get going.
“So let’s talk,” he said, concluding his formal comments.
Current City Attorney Danny Basil, seated at left, chats with Rich Alexander prior to Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for Glasgow elected officials. Mayor-elect Henry Royse has asked Alexander to be the city attorney during his term starting Jan. 1, subject to council approval. MELINDA J. OVERSTREET / GLASGOW NEWS 1
Comments