Interview with Neil Hackworth, February 26, 2003

Interview Summary

In this second of two-part interview, Neil Hackworth (Kentucky League of Cities President [1991], Deputy Executive Director [1995-2010], and former Shelbyville, Kentucky mayor), details defining events that transpired during his tenure as mayor, the activities he was involved in, the initiatives he made, the inevitable challenges that arose, and how the Kentucky League of Cities helped him to effectually confront these challenges. He lays out the socio-economic context of the early eighties that he worked within, the multifarious complexities of promoting industrial development in Shelbyville, and ultimately, Shelbyville's transition from a more independent, city-based economy to one increasingly dependent upon outside investment. In addition, Hackworth expresses the importance of maintaining a strong sense of place and thwarting the cultural and economic homogenization increasingly characteristic of other small Kentucky cities. He addresses the implementation of an occupational tax in Shelbyville, outlines the thought process that led to this implementation, and also, the anti-tax opposition that he met with. Hackworth also speaks of the continued process of desegregation in Shelbyville and the integration of African American Shelbyvillians into the city's workforce.

Interview Keyword

Policy-making

Interview LC Subject

Community development Hackworth, Neil Hackworth, Neil--Interviews Kentucky League of Cities Kentucky--Politics and government. Municipal government--Kentucky Policy sciences

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.