10-20-10 —       If you had told Kenneth Catron back in 1982  when he was elected to  

his first term as Monticello Mayor, that he would still be serving at  the helm of city government nearly three decades later, he wouldn't  have believed you. After all, he said all he really wanted to be  after he got out of the Army was a police officer.

    But as you talk with Catron, and he expresses his concern for people  

and his desire to help others, it is easy to see why the five-term  mayor is where he is today.

    "I have basically worked with the public all my life, whether it is  in politics, in business or in church. I have always been involved  

with the public," said Catron. "It's helping people, that's what it  is all about."

    Born and raised in the Sunnybrook community of Wayne County, Catron  

was one of eight children of Cress and Lessie Catron. He admired his  

parents, their hard work and the lessons they instilled in their  

children.

    ""My father was probably the smartest man I ever knew in my life,"  

said Catron. "Before he passed away, he had read the Bible all the  way through 18 times."

    Just outside his office in City Hall is a painting of the old  homeplace at Sunnybrook where he was born. It's a reminder of life in  rural Kentucky, in a small unassuming home where a large family was  raised by loving parents.

    "That is exactly how it looked," said Catron as he talked about the   

painting that was done by Barbara Denney.

    Service to others was a trait that was evident even when Catron was  

a boy. He recalled delivering papers for Katy Lou Rector as a  

youngster, as well as working in her husband's store.

    "In her book, she refers to ‘her boys' and she says that one of  

those boys grew up to be mayor," said Catron.

    Like many other rural Kentucky residents, Catron had to leave home  

to find a job. He spent 10 years in Champaign, Illinois, where he  

worked for the largest dry cleaning company in the nation. It was  training ground for the businesses he would operate in later years.

    Catron served two years in the Army. He was a member of the National  

Guard and volunteered for active duty.

    After that he returned home to Monticello, he founded his own chain  

of dry cleaning stores. At one point, the chain grew to include seven  

stores. Now he remains involved in only one store, which is located  

in Glasgow.

    Catron served three terms on the Monticello City Council, working  

with Mayor Carl Shearer, who set a leadership example for his successor.

    "Carl was an outstanding mayor...He knew just about everybody in the  

state. He accomplished a lot of things and he helped a lot of people.  

It didn't matter what the politics were," said Catron.

    When Shearer left office, Catron ran as his replacement. He was  

first sworn in as mayor in January 1982.

    His five terms and 21 years have had some interruptions, but no  

matter where Catron went during the years he was not in office he  

always found his way back to City Hall.

    "I really think it was the love of people and trying to help  

people," said Catron, when asked about what kept him involved. "There  

are so many different ways you can help, just being able to listen to  

people and their problems and trying to find a solution."

    When asked about accomplishments that stand out to him over his  

year's as mayor, the people he has helped is his first response. He  

is also proud of the accomplishments made through the Empowerment  

Zone designation and how it has continued to work in this community  

which has become known as the "Houseboat Manufacturing Capital of the  

World."

    While the houseboat industry has suffered during the tough economy  

over the past few years, Catron and other leaders are hopeful that a  

new initiative involving Kentucky Highlands will save some of the  

jobs that are in jeopardy as well as create future jobs at some of  

those manufacturing facilities. Funding has been awarded to help  

these facilities manufacture some energy-efficient homes.

    Catron serves on the board of directors for the Kentucky Highlands  

Investment Corporation, and he noted that the University of Kentucky  

has designed the energy-efficient homes. Three will be built in Wayne  

County, he noted.

    "We have been working on this a couple of years now," said Catron.  

"We have the facilities and we already have the personnel trained,  

the plumbers and the electricians...I think it is a way to save jobs  

in this industry."

    Jobs are one of the top issues that Catron has discussed with people  

as he has campaigned this year.

    "Jobs are and always have been the number one priority," said  

Catron. "We live in a worldwide economy and most jobs just don't come  

to Monticello....People don't understand that you can't just go ask a  

factory to come to Monticello. A lot of people have that idea, but  

that's something you just don't do."

    Catron said Monticello has been fortunate with its existing  

industries, like Beldens, Cobb, American Woodmark and Patriot  

Industries, who have continued to provide much-needed jobs to local  

residents in this tough economy. He noted that Patriot Industries has  

increased the number of its employees to 226 total over the past  

couple of years.

    Senture Connect brought hundreds of jobs to this community earlier  

this year, when the call center hired for one of its contracts.  

Though these jobs only lasted only a few months, Catron noted that  

these three or four months of employment made a big difference for  

people who needed a paycheck.

    Senture recently announced that it would be hiring more than 200  

full-time employees, and that process is underway.

    Not only are businesses hurting in these times, so are local  

governments and the City of Monticello is no exception. The city has  

lost tax dollars and has to continue to provide services to its  

people with less money.

    "It has been hard, but our departments have tightened their belts  

and they continue to do that," said Catron.

    He praised the efforts of Police Chief Ralph Miniard and Fire Chief  

Steve Ferrell who both head up top-notch departments and have  

continued to do so when money is tight.

    While tax dollars are down in the city, grant money is up, noted  

Catron. Over the past four years, the city has received more than $11  

million in grant funding. These dollars are designated for specific  

projects, like streetscaping in the downtown area, and for water and  

sewer plant improvements.

    Downtown has been the focus of many changes over the past few years.  

Streetscaping is near completion, with only some shrubs and a few  

other items left in the project, noted Catron. He is often seen in  

the downtown area, as work continues there.

    He is not an engineer or an architect, but Catron said he does know  

when something is being done right, so he likes to remain involved.  

He said that some people have voiced concern about the narrowing of  

the streets in the downtown area, but so far he said everything seems  

to be working well. Large trucks have been able to pass through the  

downtown area with no trouble.

    The city does have a couple of other large projects that have been  

funded and should be underway soon. They have received money to  

update the sewer plant and money for a new water plant.

    Catron will tell you there are good days and bad days when you are  

mayor. When the bad days happen, you have to go home and try to put  

it behind you, he noted.

    But the good outweighs the bad and that's why Catron has the desire  

to continue leading Monticello.

    "I am proud to live in Monticello and it's been an honor and a  

privilege to serve as mayor," he said.