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McKenzie Celebrates Award, Honors Retiring Businesspeople

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McKENZIE (September 15) — The City of McKenzie, local businesses, and hundreds of area citizens celebrated two milestones - the recent Small City Progress Award awarded to the City of McKenzie at the Tennessee Municipal League, and the retirement of three long-time businesspeople. Honored were Linda Coleman (Heartworks), Dr. Jimmy Padgett (DDS), and Marvin Newman (McKenzie Auto Parts). 
 
More than 30 businesses, city departments, and non-profit entities set up booths in the downtown Veterans Memorial Park in celebration of the event. Several vendors from the McKenzie Farmers Markets also marketed their goods during the event.
 
Attendees enjoyed free hot dogs and drinks, cake celebrating the city’s award, The event was capped by the final Nights on Broadway musical event on Banner Row. The Fajita Brothers was the featured band.
 
McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland gave each of the retirees a shadowbox with a proclamation and a key to the city. She announced their retirements from the temporary stage on Banner Row.
 
HEARTWORKS — Keith and Linda Coleman purchased the business from Becky Eason and opened on April 14, 1987 at a location behind Carroll Bank and Trust-McKenzie. In 1989 or 90, they moved to Cedar Street adjacent to the theatre. They bought the building from Joyce Lunsford, who operated a Christian bookstore there. Through the years, the building served as a feed store, shoe store, and a men’s store.
 
Through the years, Linda operated the store while husband, Keith operated Coleman Painting. Originally, the business sold crafts, picture frames, house paints, and antiques. Keith retired first and Linda joined him in retirement in November 2021.
 
McKENZIE AUTO PARTS — June 15, 2021 marked 50 years since Marvin Newman and Charles Hudson began McKenzie Auto Parts on 15385 Highland Drive. 
 
Marvin Newman was born and raised in Huntingdon. He joined the Army after graduating from Huntingdon High School. After leaving the Army in 1963, Marvin began working at Standard Auto in McKenzie with Charles Hudson. In 1971, the two men began contacting other parts distributors and opened McKenzie Auto Parts on June 15 of the same year. Marvin was in charge of management and sales, while Charles was a salesman on the road. 
 
When McKenzie Auto Parts opened, it was the fourth automotive parts distributor in McKenzie. The business first distributed with Goldstar and converted to Carquest in 1974. 
Marvin Newman bought Charles Hudson’s share when Hudson retired in 1984. Since then, McKenzie Auto Parts became a Newman family business. Marvin is married to Mary Newman, and they share five children: Rusty, Nina, Amanda, Carey and Joseph. Through the years, Marvin, Joseph, Rusty, and Carey operated the store and Carolyn Seavers served as bookkeeper for 40 years.
 
Marvin Newman has always actively supported summer youth activities. McKenzie Auto Parts sponsored T-ball teams from 1980 to 2019. Marvin was a member of the Rotary Club and on the Chamber Board. 
 
In 1999, McKenzie Auto Parts began providing electronics through Radio Shack. Today, the company sells cables, batteries, computer mouses, keyboards and more sourced from various suppliers after the Radio Shack corporation’s closure. McKenzie Auto Parts is closing and selling its inventory and building.
 
PRO DENTURES — Dr. James Padgett retired from his family dentistry business after 48 years. Dr. Padgett began his practice in 1974 and moved to a denture business and “emergency dental service” in 2016 when he semi-retired.
 
He loved his patients and considered them as family. He loves McKenzie and always will.
 
Small City Progress Award — The news release from the TML said, “Over the last decade, the city of McKenzie has worked to improve life for its citizens, including several local park upgrades, renovation of an historic theatre, the launch of a downtown co-working space, additional public safety services, and numerous other accomplishments, all without raising property taxes in the past 12 years.”
 
In recognition of the concerted efforts made by the city of McKenzie, the Tennessee Municipal League presented McKenzie with an award for Small City Progress. The award was presented Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at the 82nd Annual Conference of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
 
“The city has completed numerous parks and recreation upgrades. Work on McKenzie City Park alone includes two new picnic pavilions, a new BBQ grill, the October Glory Memorial Walking Trail, new playground equipment, a new dog park, baseball fields, and a new multipurpose sports field. The park also has a new 18-hole disc golf course,” continued the news release.