Southwest NAHRO has been honoring the work and dedication of Mr. Charles L. Farris for 40 years by awarding a deserving individual the “Charles L. Farris” Award each year during the Southwest NAHRO Annual Conference.  

 

Charles L. Farris was known and remembered by many in the industry as “Mr. Urban Renewal” because of his extensive involvement in the rejuvenation of St. Louis, Missouri. Charley, as he was affectionately known, had a career in housing and community development that spanned nearly four decades. From 1949 – 1953, Farris was the Deputy Director of HUD’s predecessor agency, the Housing and Home Finance Agency.  He then moved to St. Louis to work for the Land Clearance and Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) where he was the Executive Director from 1953 – 1989, serving under five of the city’s mayors.  Farris may have been best known in St. Louis for his role in building Busch Stadium on an 82 acre formerly blighted site.  The construction of that stadium and the nearby city landmark Arch are credited as being the catalysts to the rebirth of Downtown St. Louis.  During his long tenure at LCRA, the agency completed the development of several important projects that helped rejuvenate the city.  More than $1 billion in public funds generated $4.3 billion in total development, creating 75,000 permanent jobs and 13,000 housing units under Farris’ direction.  After retiring from government service in 1989, he started his own construction and development firm, The Farris Group. Charles L. Farris was steadfast in his support and dedication to NAHRO.

 

In 1983, Southwest NAHRO established the Charles L. Farris Award to honor Charley.  The award is given annually to a person who has shown a personal commitment to the future of housing and redevelopment.  The Charles L. Farris award is the most prestigious award an individual can receive from Southwest NAHRO.  

 

Applicant must be an active Southwest NAHRO Member and must have served at all three levels of service – State Chapter, SW Regional Chapter, and the National Chapter.  This application, along with a detailed narrative description of the nominee, copies of supporting documentation (articles, commendations, awards, etc.), including specific types and dates of NAHRO service should be submitted to:

The Wm. S. Clements Award honors one outstanding maintenance professional each year at the Annual Southwest NAHRO Maintenance Conference.  The Wm. S. Clements award is the most prestigious award a maintenance professional can receive from Southwest NAHRO and is named in honor of a William S. Clements who provided exemplary service to this industry throughout his career.  Nominees must have been employed for at least one year with an agency who is a member in good standing with Southwest NAHRO.  Narratives should be submitted by at least two of the following persons confirming the nominee’s delivery of excellence in maintenance service over and above what is required:

 

1. A resident or facility tenant

2. A manager of PHA, CD Agency or facility

3. A maintenance team member 

 

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of past Wm. S. Clements award winners and will be announced at the Southwest NAHRO Maintenance Conference.  The Wm. S. Clements award winner will be presented with a plaque with all the past recipients names listed along with his / her name to be hung in their office for one year.