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Rufus “Chuck” Smith, longtime Morristown Utilities Employee and Morristown Tree Board Member, was honored Tuesday morning as the City of Morristown planted a tree in honor of his dedication to the city.

The tree board and Keep Morristown Beautiful, along with coworkers and families and friends gathered at the Hamblen County Board of Education to see the Flowering Dogwood that sits on the front of the property.

Clarence Thompson, current tree board chairman, thanked Smith for his dedication to MU and to the city.

“Today is about Mr. Smith who has given more than 30 years to Morristown Utilities and to his community,” he said. “We thank him for his service.

“Chuck and I go way back and I want to thank him for his service to the company but also to the tree board.”

Stan Greene, MU Marketing and Public Relations manager, described Smith’s dedication to the city and company.

“We want to thank you for everything you have done for Morristown Utilities and the city of Morristown and we just want to take today as an opportunity to honor you with this tree and your dedication to the area,” Greene said.

“We thank you for your years of dedicated service, through the cold nights, hot nights and the 24 hours of working to ensure the entire city has light and is powered. You have just done an amazing job and on behalf of the city of Morristown and Morristown Utilities we say thank you.”

Following the ceremony, Smith offered a few words of his appreciation to MU and the tree board.

“I appreciate this so much,” Smith said. “I spent the past 30 years with Morristown Utilities and it is really a great company. I also enjoyed working on the tree board for the past few years and I just want to say thank you for all this.”

In an effort to increase trees throughout the city, the Tree Board, in partnership with Keep Morristown-Hamblen Beautiful, established the Legacy Tree program.

Individuals can be remembered or honored through a donation that is used for the planting and maintenance of the trees located in public places such as parks and along the greenway.

For more information about a legacy tree, call Keep Morristown- Hamblen Beautiful at 423-586-6422 or the Morristown Tree Board at 423- 585-1830.