DeSoto pays tribute to Michael Hurtt

by Daphne Brown of DeSoto TODAY

DeSoto poked plenty of fun at its first couple during the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce's second annual Roast and Toast reception held April 14.

More importantly, city, community and business leaders praised DeSoto Mayor Michael and Marilyn Hurtt, who together have served and represented the city for six years. The Hurtts, surrounded by family and friends, pursed their lips between bouts of laughter as they sat in the proverbial hot seats. They were instructed to “sit back and don't quite relax” as there was no control over what their so-called friends might say.

Roy Orr, the subject of last year's first Roast and Toast, initiated the evening's festivities, saying he would try not to embarrass Hurtt too badly.

“Michael has met many more important people than I have,” Orr said. “There's one caveat, a good number of them were dead.”

Continuing his good-natured ribbing, Orr said Hurtt is proof-positive that anyone can get elected.

“He has been a great asset to this community ... although some might see it in a different way,” he said. “He had a big hand in making this an All-America City.”

Pearl Epps, mother of Community Missionary Baptist Church pastor Oscar Epps, read a proclamation from the church, sharing that Hurtt grew up in Wyoming and has been married for 29 years to the former Marilyn Munroe. Epps said it was the “U” that made the difference for Hurtt when he fell in love and asked his Marilyn to marry.

She said Hurtt spends much of his time now playing golf “chasing a little white ball because he's gotten too old to chase anything else.”

She encouraged him to live life dangerously in this new phase of life.

“Go ahead and drink that milk the day after it expires, tear the do-not-remove tag off of that pillow, you've paid your dues, take your dog out without a leash, undo your seatbelt before the plane comes to a complete stop,” she said.

Getting serious, she said if someone were to write a book about Hurtt's life these last few years, “don't forget to include that Michael Hurtt was responsible for making DeSoto a culturally inclusive, model city ... with safe, clean, attractive communities.”

She said Hurtt is a man who recognizes the value of each citizen.

“He is honest, available and caring,” she said. “What a man this Michael Hurtt has been.”

Tom Munroe, Hurtt's brother-in-law, said he took “a little grief from my friends” growing up with a sister named Marilyn Munroe.

“We had an A cup Marilyn and a D cup Marilyn,” he joked to gasps of laughter.

Hurtt was a 135 pounds when they met, driving a shiny new Cadillac. The first time he came to pick up Munroe's sister, he recalls Hurtt blasting Barry Manilow, “which should have been considered a felony or at the very least a misdemeanor.

“Somehow Marilyn found this attractive,” he continued.

Munroe said although his brother-in-law embarked on a career in the funeral business, he always knew Hurtt would have a career in politics.

“He was known for turning a phrase like ‘I never had a client who complained.'”

He shared that Hurtt owes him about $200,000 for which he hasn't paid up. The Hurtts' agreed to drop off Munroe's daughter at college some decades ago. Despite her apprehension about being dropped off in a hearse, she agreed but made Hurtt park some blocks away from her dorm and carry the luggage to save some embarrassment. Munroe pointed out that after putting his daughter through four years of college at the University of Texas at Austin, she retired some years ago and found a position in a Georgetown, Texas, funeral home.

“You could have saved me about 200,000 grand if you had just kept driving,” Munroe said. “The city of DeSoto couldn't have had anyone more honest or dedicated.”

John Firestone, a longtime friend and colleague of Hurtt's, said when the Hurtts got married they agreed that Michael would handle the major decisions and Marilyn would take care of the minor ones.

“Everything has worked out fine since they've never had to make any major decisions,” Firestone said.

He added that at Hurtt's age happy hour is a nap.

“I know of no one who has been more proud of their city than Michael Hurtt,” he said.

Fred Orr said he was holding his breath until the DNA results came back (from Anna Nicole Smith's daughter) that Hurtt wasn't the father. He said he had to point out to Hurtt that people didn't die alphabetically despite their listing in the obituary pages.

Dan Eddy of the University of North Texas-Systems Center in Dallas, had DeSoto Police Chief Mike Brodnax read a proclamation clearing him of anything he might say about Hurtt. Eddy told the crowd of about 250 people that the last 30 years of Hurtt's life has been a lie. Continuing the yarn, he said that he had worked as a hit man for Hurtt and his mobster family. Eddy said Hurtt's nickname for him was “bone crusher” and whenever Hurtt, or the godfather as Eddy knew him, would call with orders to take care of someone, the family would handle the funeral arraignments, thereby keeping the family front business going.

“Why do you think in all the time he's been in public office that he's never had an opponent,” Eddy said.

DeSoto City Manager Jim Baugh, who was asked to speak last by Hurtt, thanked Hurtt because he had always wanted to be the city manager of an All-America City. He said he wasn't quite sure why Hurtt made the request because his reputation is one of a pretty dry and straightforward person.

“Nonetheless, I was honored, but I did wonder if he had any good friends,” Baugh said.

He said there were plenty of stories he could share about Hurtt that people were aware of, particularly the time chickens were released in council chambers or the never-ending Wal-Mart meeting.

“But there is one story that I made a pledge that I wouldn't tell until he was no longer mayor,” Baugh said.

Getting a nod of clearance from Hurtt, Baugh began a story that took place in 2003, as a representative group of DeSotoans traveled to New York to meet with bond rating agents. He said it is pretty intense work for those who have never been involved with the process. One night after the meetings and before the group was to return to DeSoto, everyone attended the play Cabaret, paid for at the individual's own expense he pointed out. As the evening progressed, Baugh said a beautiful woman approached where the DeSoto group sat, but the woman turned out not to be completely feminine.

“Now I'm from Texas, and I don't understand all that stuff and I'm pretty shy about those things,” Baugh said. “At some point we locked eyes and I knew this man/girl was going to approach my group, and it was going to be a disaster. I was afraid this he/she was going to pick me.

“I began to think I wasn't going to get out of there without having a heart attack,” he remembered, saying the man locked eyes with him and began approaching their table. “Lo and behold, my friend, Michael Hurtt, immediately stepped in and diverted the attention.

“I want to tell you something, Michael danced, held hands and sang up there on that stage, and he told everybody in that room he was the mayor of DeSoto, Texas. And when he was asked who the people were sitting with him, he said he didn't know them.

“You all would have loved it, and you would have been proud of him,” Baugh said.

Hurtt was exactly what DeSoto needed as it transitioned from a predominately white city to a rich, wonderfully and culturally diverse community, he said.

“With honesty and integrity, open government was Michael's pledge from day one,” Baugh said. “I don't know about all the other stuff you do, I'll leave that alone, but I have enjoyed working with you.”

Members of Hurtt's 1970 graduating class in Casper, Wyo., forwarded a proclamation, which told of his time on the school's baseball and debate teams, being the first one to get a driver's permit in the class and of his pet raccoon.

Also, the Roast and Toast's Platinum Sponsor Traxion Holdings, Inc., in cooperation with the Best Southwest Youth Football and Cheerleading Association named an award in Hurtt's honor for serving the city and being the epitome of volunteerism.

Hurtt closed the evening with thoughtful comments to those who spoke, but addressing his wife, he said he knew the real reason everyone attended, “to honor my wife.”

“You've listened when you've wanted to talk, missed time with family, particularly the grandchildren,” Hurtt said. “I'm just really thankful no-body asked her to roast. Folks ya'll were firing blanks compared to what she could have said.”

He thanked her for loving him when it was difficult.

“Thank you for your sacrifices,” he said, adding, “Albert Einstein once said only a life lived for others is a life worth-while.

“I couldn't think of any place I'd rather be and it's because of ya'll,” he said. “I'll shut up now, but I'm not going away.”

The evening ended with a tribute in song by Patricia Coleman, the chamber's 2006 ambassador of the year. Coleman changed the words of a song from the stage play “Dream Girls” entitled “Your the Perfect Man for Me.” She sang “Your the perfect mayor for DeSoto.”

The evening raised five $500 scholarships to be awarded to graduating DeSoto High School students Wednesday, April 25.