By Ken Parker, ICMA Liaison
For sixty years, Norman Hickey has been a member of FCCMA. He joined FCCMA when he came to Florida in 1956 to be the Assistant City Manager in Fort Lauderdale. Norm’s public service career allowed him to serve in cities and counties from Florida to California and to work internationally as well. Norm has never been one to shy away from the hard issues.
Howard Tipton noted that when Norm became City Manager in Daytona Beach, he was instrumental in implementing professional city management in Daytona Beach. He broke down racial barriers by hiring the first black Assistant City Manager in Daytona Beach, a move in the 1960’s that was controversial and carried with it great risk, not only professionally but also personally.
When Embry Riddle Aeronautical University needed a home, the team of people seeking to relocate the school, called Norm and asked if he could help them find space for the fledging institution. Working with the Daytona City Commission, property and buildings were located so that Embry-Riddle could begin holding classes. Today, Embry-Riddle is considered to be the premiere Aeronautical University in the United States with more than 6,000 students on its campus in Daytona Beach and thousands more enrolled at its Prescott, Arizona campus and in classes in its world-wide campus.
Norm has served both FCCMA and ICMA. He served on the FCCMA Board and also was President of the Association. In 1981, Norm was selected to serve on the ICMA Executive Board. In 1998, ICMA recognized Norm as a recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.
I met Norm for the first time in 1986. He was recognized by ICMA for his ethical stand in Hillsborough County. He became aware of corruption and took steps to remedy the situation including going to law enforcement concerning members of the Hillsborough County Commision who were involved. His stand carried with it personal and professional risk. I remember Norm talking about the importance of ethical behavior. As he put it, it was an easy decision. Corruption can never be tolerated. Corruption destroys the very foundation of trust people have placed in their government.
Not only did Norm serve in city and county government, but he was involved internationally. He was appointed as the Senior USAID Advisor in the Republic of South Viet Nam. He oversaw civil works during the period of some of the most intense fighting in Viet Nam. After he retired from active governmental service, he was called on to help in eastern Europe after the break up of the Soviet Union. He worked in Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and the Ukraine
During his 60-year career, he served in an Assistant City Manager in Fort Lauderdale, City Manager in Titusville, City Manager in Daytona Beach; Senior Advisor to USAID, Deputy City Manager in Hollywood, Florida, Hillsborough County Manager, San Diego County Manager, California County Manager, and St. Petersburg, Florida City Manager. He held worked with ICMA on a variety of contracts in the former Soviet Union. He worked in the Republic of Georgia to establish a Public Administration course of study at their major University and taught courses there on the importance of professional local government management. His last assignment was with the Peace Corp where he directed the work of Peace Corp volunteers.
