The Town of Collierville has honored James Lewellen for his 25 years of service as a Town Administrator. During the pin presentation on Monday, October 26, Mayor Stan Joyner said, “James has proven himself as an incredible leader with the ability to balance Collierville residents’ needs and wants with budgetary reality. He is patient, humble and an invaluable resource to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Town staff and the entire community.”

After graduating from Mississippi State University, Lewellen served as the Director of the Planning and Development Department for the City of Southaven and as the Chief Planner in the Department of Development in 1989. In 1995, he became Collierville’s Town Administrator. 

Since his arrival, Lewellen has served under three mayors and witnessed the Town’s population soar, alongside the General Fund and the Town of Collierville’s overall number of employees. Under his leadership, Collierville developed their first ever Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which helped the Town transform from a developing rural community to a cosmopolitan suburb and a regional center for commerce and innovation. 

During Lewellen’s time in office, Collierville has won the Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States for 23 years, the Town elevated its fire protection ranking to a 2, and worked to preserve historic buildings, such as the Morton Museum of Collierville History and the old Collierville High School. 

Additionally, Lewellen was instrumental in the Town’s effort to develop its own school system. He played a key role in organizing teams of consultants and legal counsel, assisting state leaders with the coordination of legislative efforts and leading Town Hall meetings. In 2014, the Collierville Municipal School System held its first classes and within a year, the Town made a plan to build a new $95 million high school, which opened in 2018. 

Lewellen has received the H.E. Harrell Education Award from the Collierville Chamber of Commerce, the H.R. Houston Community Service Award from Leadership Collierville and served as President of the Tennessee City Management Association from 2011-2012. In 2014, he received the Dunavant Public Servant Award from the Rotary Club of Memphis East and was named “City Manager of the Year” by the Tennessee City Management Association. 

Header Photo | Cindy B. Thymius Photography