by Cherie Duvall

South Bay, Fla., Mayor Clarence Anthony, NLC past president, recently won the Florida League of Cities? top award for his outstanding work and contribution to his community.

Anthony was awarded with the E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award, an annual award that recognizes elected officials with superior municipal leadership, during the league?s 80th Annual Conference, which was held in Jacksonville, Fla., in August. Anthony is a former Florida League of Cities president and has been involved in the league for more than 20 years.

One effort by Anthony that was highlighted when given the award was his tireless work to increase literacy in South Bay. His contributions to opening a local library in the city resulted in the library being named after him.

Serving as NLC president in 1999, Anthony also remains very active with NLC as a member of the Board of Directors, NLC?s nominating committee for officers and Board members to lead NLC next year and the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials constituency group.

Besides being South Bay mayor for 21 years, Anthony is also a senior vice president with PBS&J, a national engineering firm and an NLC Corporate Partner.