University of Virginia Library

Local Council Approves New City Manager
To Assume Office on New Year's Day

After a review of 125 applicants, city
council unanimously approved the
appointment of Cole Hendrix to replace
retiring city manager James E. Bowen.

Mr. Bowen has served as city manager
since 1948 and will retire January 1. He
has no definite plans for the future,
although there is a possibility that he may
be retained as an advisor to the city.

A 36-year-old native of Coffeyville,
Kansas, Mr. Hendrix received an A.B. in
political science and an M.A. in public
administration from the University of Kansas.
He served in the U.S. Army and is the father of
three sons.

Mr. Hendrix has a wide range of experience
in city management. He was an assistant city
manager in San Angelo, Texas with a
population of 70,000; city manager in
Marceline, Mo. (population 3,000); Gladstone,
Mo. (population 20,000), and served as
assistant city manager in Kansas City. Currently
Mr. Hendrix is executive director of the
Northwest Missouri Law Enforcement
Assistance Council.

While Mr. Hendrix was serving as assistant
city manager in Kansas City, the first black
human relations director was appointed. Mr.
Hendrix stated that he felt this effort paid off
and although there were riots in the spring of
1968, he felt they learned a great deal from it.

When asked why he applied for the post of
city manager Mr. Hendrix cited several reasons.
"It is a very delightful town and it looks like a
grand place to live. I have been very impressed
with the council and was influenced by the
state of city government here. It is stable and in
good financial condition. There are problems
and challenges to be met. It offers a variety of
things I'm looking for."

Mr. Hendrix states simply that his method
of public administration is "working with
people to solve problems."