Mayor Receives Leadership Award from UMass-Boston

Recently, Mayor Michael J. McGlynn was presented the 2013 John Ziergiebel Lifetime of Distinguished Leadership and Community Service Award by the University of Massachusetts-Boston Student Government Association and the Office of Alumni Relations. This award honors the memory of Mr. Ziegiebel, a 1973 graduate of the University, whose career was that of a public school educator as well as a community activist. Mr. Ziergiebel was a great example of the university’s tradition of student-centered education.

Mayor McGlynn, a 1976 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, was selected for the award due to his unqualified success as Medford’s Mayor. As noted during the award ceremony:

“Mayor McGlynn is a great friend and champion of the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He has devoted his life to public service, first as a State Legislator, and then as Mayor of Medford. Mayor McGlynn has dedicated his efforts to rebuilding all of the city’s elementary and middle schools, he has led the way to renovations at Medford High School and public parks. He believes strongly in the importance of Medford being designated a Green Community. Because of his leadership, Medford has a Moody’s A-1 Bond Rating and it enjoys a lower tax rate many surrounding communities. Boston Magazine has characterized Medford as an “up and coming place to live” and the Boston Herald recently highlighted the city in an article, entitled, “Medford: Where Diversity is Genuine, Not Trendy.” For these, and many other reasons, we are proud to present Mayor McGlynn with the Ziegiebel Award as one of the University’s most outstanding alumni.”

In his acceptance speech, Mayor McGlynn thanked the University of Massachusetts for this great honor, stating: “UMass prepared me well to receive the lessons of life experiences upon which leadership is developed. After graduating from the University in May of 1976, I was elected to the House of Representatives in November of 1976. I served six terms in the legislature, before being elected the first strong Mayor for the City of Medford in 1987. My platform has been, and always will be, as a fighter for working families, veterans and our seniors. In my nearly four decades of public service, I have learned that leadership is not based on title, position or status, rather, the key to true leadership is found in the simplicity and complexity of service to our fellow human beings.”

“A leader must serve the truth that people derive hope from opportunities…the opportunities that can only be realized when those doors that are locked because of color, ethnic background, faith tradition, disability, or sexual orientation are opened by the keys that we call equality, fairness, and justice.”

“A leader must serve the truth that real communities can be built only on the bricks we call collaboration, communication and inclusion.”

“A leader must serve the truth that effective decisions are not decrees or pronouncements but they are guides to a better future on a clear understanding of the present.”

– Information from Mayor McGlynn’s office