Ben Cox, BrownwoodNews.com – It’s time to recognize the people that make our lives easier, to shine a spotlight on the men and women of our community that work for us, even if we never know it. We present to you “Civic Spotlight.”
This week, we take a look at a man whose primary job function is to fight the saying “there’s nothing to do in Brownwood.” David Withers is the Parks and Recreation Director, and he is responsible for the 19 city parks in Brownwood. Yes, we actually have that many parks in town, just ask David!
Withers is also in charge of the Colosseum, Adams Street Community Center, The Depot, Bennie Houston Center, Camp Bowie Gym, the Senior Citizens program and the Lehnis Train Museum. During the summer months, Withers is in charge of 84 employees including the seasonal employees.
A city employee for almost 32 years, Withers started as the Assistant Coliseum Manager, working there for seven years. After seeing two people come and go as the Director of Parks and Rec, David threw his hat in the ring and landed the position, which he still takes pride in doing 20 years later.
Withers also recalls some unexpected benefits of city employment from his Colosseum days. “I got to meet a lot of people. Even though at the time it was like ‘Garth Who?’, I also met Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, and a whole bunch of people.”
Withers enjoys his job because, in part, he gets to be in charge of what he call “Making Fun.” Withers says “My job is more about quality of life. I’m able to make things nicer in the parks and at the pools for the family to come out and have a great time. My department doesn’t charge them a water bill or work on their streets, we just deal with quality of life.”
Disc Golf, walking trails, the Camp Bowie Aquatic Center, and the new soccer, baseball and soft ball fields are some recent additions to his department Withers is proud of. A Brownwood native, a 1977 graduate of Brownwood High School and a 1982 graduate of Howard Payne, civic pride is second nature to Withers.
Withers loved getting his children involved in his work, too. “When they were little, I’d tell my kids ‘I’m hoping the city will let me get some new playground equipment’, so we’d be somewhere else and I’d have them try it out. They got to feeling like they were experts in playground equipment!”
Withers leads by example, jumping in to fold up chairs or clean after a city event if need be. “When we need some extra help, if I can postpone any of my paperwork I’ll help do what needs to be done. That’s what I’m here for. I try to make things better for everybody, the crews as well as the citizens.”
Withers also takes seriously every suggestion made to him about improving the city, of which there are several. Instead of dismissing ideas that are not currently feasible, “I spend the time and instead of saying we can’t, I’ll say ‘this is why we can’t right now’ but hopefully in the future we can do some things like that.”
David Withers, thank you for your service to the residents of Brownwood, and for allowing us to shine our Civic Spotlight in your direction.
