David G. Wallace

Thanks for the Memories

Less than a decade ago, it was my great privilege to be elected to serve the citizens of the City of Sugar Land as a representative on City Council.  This month, I will complete my third and final term as Mayor of this wonderful city.  Determined at this point in my life to focus more attention on my business and other community service opportunities, I leave this office with gratitude… for the exceptional people I have been fortunate to meet, for the life-changing experiences that come with a job like this, and for the honor of representing and serving the people of Sugar Land.

Truth is, there really isn’t another job like this.  For that matter, it’s not even a “job,” rather a volunteer position to which I was elected.  Each of us on City Council has a profession that enables us to provide for our families.  But it’s our role on Council that provides each of us the opportunity to direct our talents, skills and passion in service back to our community.  And I must tell you, there are few things in life more satisfying than being able to put your talent and experience to work, in an office that you’re honored to hold, for the betterment of your neighbors and community.

It would take more than these few lines of print to adequately detail the experiences and appropriately acknowledge the individuals I have had the privilege of working alongside while in office.  But what I can do is share with you a couple of things I learned along the way.

United We Stand

First, no challenge is too great if we face it together.  From the terrorist attacks on 9/11 to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this was a decade marked by tragedy of mammoth scale and complexity.  Despite the relative safety of our comfortable suburban homes, not one of us was untouched by these events.  Yet, there was an amazing clarity and simplicity in our purpose as we joined together as a community to provide relief for those in greatest need.

I recall very clearly the hours and days immediately following the Hurricane Katrina disaster.  City leaders from throughout the Greater Houston area were called together for a strategy meeting at the American Red Cross.  Our goal was to mobilize volunteers and create an infrastructure within our communities to provide emergency assistance to the hundreds of thousands of evacuees streaming our way.  As I left this meeting at approximately 5:30 p.m. that evening, I called City Hall to reserve the Chamber for 9:00 a.m. the next morning.  The next calls that went out were to members of an interfaith multi-cultural subcommittee that I had organized when I first became mayor.  I knew that by activating this group, I could most effectively reach out to the various ethnic groups and faith communities in Sugar Land.  Imagine my reaction just a few hours later, when over 300 people packed the Chamber to overflowing, anxious to hear how they could help!

Just days later, the Hurricane Relief Center was created in the old City Hall building, staffed by hundreds of volunteers around the clock, providing medical help, financial assistance, housing, jobs and other services to over 1000 evacuees a day.  It was, at once, both humbling and overwhelming to witness.  The most apparent differences of race, religion and language dissolved into a non-issue as the more universal issue of helping others in their time of great need took precedence.

Today, Sugar Land is recognized as a “Community of Respect” by the Anti-Defamation League and, in fact, is the first city in the nation to receive this distinction.  I don’t pretend that this came easily – we must continually work at this – but it begins by reaching out to one another and growing in the understanding that our differences actually make us stronger.

Being recognized as a community that supports and celebrates its diversity has additional economic benefits as well.  Four years ago, when the president of Sunoco was considering moving headquarters from Tulsa to Sugar Land, she was impressed with our education, healthy economy, quality of life, incentives, workforce development and steady growth.  But the deciding factor was not what you’d expect – it was our diversity, being a place where all faiths are welcomed, that was most attractive to this global and very diverse company.

Together We Made A Difference

The second lesson is this:  We are citizens of a city and state within the greatest nation in the world.  We enjoy freedom, prosperity, and opportunity that people of other nations cannot even dream of.  We are heirs to a democracy that is often taken for granted, but one that was won through centuries of great sacrifice and vision.  So precious is this way of life that each and every one of us is called to protect, strengthen and serve this great country.  For some, it means putting their very lives in danger for our benefit and these courageous men and women are owed our deepest gratitude and respect.

For the rest of us who wake up to a Texas sunrise with the freedom to worship, earn a living, and live in peace, we are called to serve, too.  Each of us does something well.  Consider, then, how you can share that talent or skill for the betterment of your neighborhood, your community, your state or your country.  Then do it.

Care enough to get involved, encourage others who step forward to serve, and believe that your contribution will make a difference.

From the very beginning, this has been a nation of vision and faith.  The great leaders who created this nation did not view themselves as “forefathers” or imagine that their actions would change the course of world history.  Rather, they simply responded to a call to serve.  They willingly gave their time, skills, and talent for the betterment of their community.  We are heirs to this legacy and we, too, are called to serve.

It has truly been an honor to serve this community as Mayor of Sugar Land.  Thank you for this unique opportunity and for entrusting me with this significant responsibility.  The role of public servant is one that I assumed with great honor and respect for the office, for those who have served so selflessly before me and alongside me, and most especially for those who I have represented.  It was a privilege and – together – we made a difference.