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After 4 decades of public service, Hubbard Mayor Magee to retire
HUBBARD — Mayor Arthur U. Magee, a longtime figure in city and Trumbull County government, has announced he’ll retire.
Magee, who broke his neck in a fall this summer, said the accident has hampered him in carrying out his duties in the manner he would like.
“I don’t want to go halfway,” he told The Vindicator earlier this week.
He also said recovering from surgery that left him in a brace “has been tough on my family and myself.”
His retirement is effective Dec. 12. Trumbull County Democratic Party precinct committee people of Hubbard will meet to appoint a new mayor to fill his unexpired term, which would be over in 2011.
Magee began his career in government as a Hubbard council member from January 1964 to December 1965. He was council president from January 1974 to June 1974.
He became mayor in June 1974 and remained in the post until January 1983. From 1983 until 1998, he was a Trumbull County commissioner. From January 2004 until now, he’s been Hubbard’s mayor.
People who served in city and county government with him recalled his career and his service Friday after his announcement became official.
“I worked with him as a county commissioner,” said Michael O’Brien, now mayor of Warren. He said he was on the board with Magee from 1992 to 1998.
O’Brien said that as a new commissioner, he found Magee helpful as he learned the role.
He remembered him as a tireless worker. “In at 7:30 [a.m.] and out at 5 p.m.”
Magee seldom looked at any notes, O’Brien said, but always was well-versed on issues and the requirements of county government.
“He went to great lengths to illustrate his position on many issues,” O’Brien said.
He even went so far as to park a city street roller across the railroad tracks on North Main Street because the trains were moving too slow through the city, said Al Sauline, who worked with Magee in city government.
Sauline, who now works for Aqua Ohio, was a Hubbard council member during Magee’s first term as mayor and was mayor of the city five years after Magee left to become a county commissioner.
“That’s the style of mayor he was,” Sauline said. “He wasn’t afraid to do things outside the box to prove a point.”
“He’ll be remembered as one of the more remarkable mayors,” Sauline said, “for his energy and commitment to the community. He loved the job.”
Roselyn Ferris, now O’Brien’s secretary, worked with Magee for 16 years as clerk of the board of commissioners.
“It was my pleasure to work with Art,” she said.
“He was very knowledgeable. A good public official and a good-hearted person,” she said.
“I feel sorry he couldn’t finish out his term,” said Pat Gilliland, a council member for 22 years. “I wish him a lot of luck.”
“Hubbard is a great community with great people that I love dearly and will truly miss,” Magee said in his prepared announcement. “God bless all of them and good luck to those who will guide and direct this fine city.”
starmack@vindy.com