John French, Resident Services Coordinator for the Town of Chapel Hill, was awarded the 2016 W. Calvin Horton Service Award this past Friday. The award is the highest service honor for a town employee.

The award was announced by the deputy manager Flo Miller at an employee awards ceremony during the town’s Employee Application Day.

French has served as the Town’s Resident Services Coordinator for 13 years. His position previously had been in the Police Department and is currently working in the Housing and Community Department.

French created the Visions Program, which is designed to mentor young African-American men in the community. He also supervises the Summer Youth Employment program where interns are placed in various town departments.

French also runs a Friday night basketball league at Hargraves and has been engaged in a number of community outreach programs both in Chapel Hill and Carrboro City Schools.

The W. Calvin Horton Award started in 2007 when the community raised funds to honor the former Town Manager Cal Horton for his 16 years of service. Horton requested that the funds be used to award town employees for distinguished service.

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