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A Professional, A Mentor, A Friend: Bob Buffington Remembered
Posted: September 26, 2006
For Lynn Woodall he was a “guiding light for those who were lucky enough to know him.” For Terrie Monroe he was someone who “taught me that the most effective way to lead is by setting the example.” And for Jeff Zimmerman he was “my mentor, my rock and my hero.”
All across the City of Plano Bob Buffington, Plano’s Neighborhood Services Manager, is being remembered with tears, smiles and gratitude. The man who served the citizens of Plano and who helped shape the Plano community for the past thirty years died September 22 while undergoing a diagnostic coronary procedure.
“I was just speechless,” said Deborah Stone, Public Information Coordinator. “There was just no way to digest the news that Bob was gone. Nobody could quite express their feelings when we first heard – there was shock and disbelief then, and it still lingers today.”
Tributes to Mr. Buffington are pouring in from all over the City. “With his kind and gentle ways, he has taught me that the most effective way to lead is by setting the example,” said Terrie Monroe, who worked with Mr. Buffington as Community Development Coordinator for the past six years. “His example was to always speak kindly of people, never let personal feelings get in the way when making decisions and always give the customer the benefit of the doubt.”
“Bob hired me 22 years ago,” reflected Executive Director Frank Turner. “On the day of the interview Bob picked me up at the then Harvey Hotel and drove me down 16th Street to City Hall. It was an interesting day riding around Plano and talking with Bob. Plano was a little stark compared to the hills and trees of Knoxville (TN), but I could see the city was growing and striving for quality development. However, it was Bob that convinced me to come to Plano. His warmth, friendliness and sincerity told me this was the place for me.”
Making Plano “the place for me” is part of the bountiful legacy Mr. Buffington leaves behind. Following his graduation from Oklahoma State and a stint in the U. S. Army he obtained a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Tennessee. He began his career of municipal service working for the City of Garland in 1973. Then, in December 1976 he became the first city planner for the City of Plano, helping to shape and guide the City’s growth and development for the next thirty years.
“The first few years in Plano were challenging,” said Mr. Turner. “A zoning moratorium was declared by City Council immediately after I accepted the job. This was followed by a complete rewrite of the city’s Comprehensive Plan. Council and Planning & Zoning meetings routinely lasted till after midnight. Bob was always there offering me support and friendship.”
“Bob is probably the person most responsible for planning as we know it in the City of Plano today,” said Mr. Jeff Zimmerman, Long Range Planning Manager. “The Planning Department started as a one-person operation in late 1970. When Bob turned it over to Frank Turner in the mid-1980’s it had grown to seven persons and was well on its way to becoming the highly recognized department that it is today. Bob established the basic framework for long-range planning, zoning and development review that is still utilized today.”
Mr. Buffington’s work in the planning arena transitioned into community development, which saw him serve in the capacity of Community Development Director, with that department evolving into Neighborhood Services, where he most recently served as Neighborhood Services Manager.
Mr. Buffington was responsible, in part, for overseeing administration of Community Development Block Grant monies and other federal and local funds. Since 1985 Plano has received over $19.5 million in federal funds, which have gone towards housing and social services assistance. Working with agencies such as Samaritan Inn, Children’s Advocacy Center, Assistance Center of Collin County and Plano Area Habitat for Humanity, Mr. Buffington was a familiar and respected face in the Plano community.
“Bob was a dear friend to CCSSA, the Collin County community, and to all who knew him. He will be greatly, greatly missed,” said Shirletta Best, Collin County Social Services Association Secretary.
Under his watch, Neighborhood Services was the lead agency in developing Homeward Bound: A Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Collin County. Innovative and effective Neighborhood Action Plans were developed to breathe new life into preservation of our aging neighborhoods, teaming residents and the City together in partnering to solve problems and enrich their quality of life, one block at a time. The on-going plans remain a vital process to our community as our neighborhood infrastructure continues to age.
Neighborhood Services also facilitates operation of the Plano Day Labor Center, created in 1994 to provide a safe location for both workers and employers to meet. The Center facilitates up to 250 workers who daily seek work from an average of 80-100 short-term jobs. In 2005, Mr. Buffington and his staff played a vital role in assisting the city in locating and obtaining permanent housing for hundreds of sheltered Hurricane Katrina evacuees registered in the City of Plano.
In 2004 Plano received the prestigious Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award (the National Community Development Association), recognizing “exemplary uses of Community Development Block Grant funds which address families, homes and neighborhoods.” Mr. Buffington was especially proud of this accolade as it represented the combined partnering of the community and city. “It involved a combination of federal and local funds, and drew from a variety of public, private, non-profit and community resources to accomplish the goal of revitalizing our neighborhoods,” he said at the time.
Of all of Mr. Buffington’s accomplishments in life, none matched the love and enjoyment he received from being with his family. Married to Chris Blair in July 1974, he was the proud parent of Kevin, Amy and Tara. An avid history buff and reader, his love of working with youth as a scoutmaster and soccer coach was only surpassed by his service to his church.
Bob’s Christian principles were reflected in every area of his life. Integrity, ethics, a caring gentle man who truly never met a stranger…we’ll miss you Bob and thank you for passing through our lives.
“Bob was kind, wise and had a wonderful dry wit, which kept us endlessly amused. He was always fair, always just and genuinely cared about his employees. To me he was so much more than a boss…he was a mentor and a friend and I will miss him deeply. Bob gave a chance to so many of us, by hiring us and trusting us to work as adults with integrity and respect.” Laleh Soltan, Emergency Management Specialist.
“Most people with whom you come in contact do a lot of talking about who they are, how they are, their views…not Bob. With him, you were treated to a hefty and consistently predictable dose of quiet, deeply profound moral turpitude and conviction that is rarely exemplified these days. The sense that you got with him in each and every interaction was that you, and what you brought to the interaction, was respected and valued, even if he didn’t embrace or endorse what you brought.” Jerry Bradley, Jr., Community Development Coordinator
“I was very blessed to have Bob not only as a co-worker but as a wonderful friend as well. He seemed to know when each of us needed a little encouragement and gave it to us, sometimes in ways that we didn’t even realize he was doing it. He was just there for all of us. He was a wonderful example of how to live your life with Christ first, yet he was never pushy or overbearing about it, it’s just who he was. He was deeply respected, very loved and will be greatly missed.” Lynn Woodall, Administrative Support Supervisor
“Bob was a man of great character. He touched all who knew him and he made a lasting contribution to the community and his profession. I will always be thankful for having known him.” Frank Turner, Executive Director
“Bob loved the City of Plano and has made major contributions to its development as a model city. I know his contributions will be remembered for many years.” Terrie Monroe, Community Development Coordinator
“Bob was a very caring individual whose love and devotion for his family, his community and his fellow staff members made us all strive to reach our fullest potential. He was never one who concerned himself about personal accolades or receiving credit for his accomplishments. Improving the plight of others and building a better community were his primary purposes in life. If you talk to the people that he touched and look at this city, it is clear that his was a very successful life.” Jeff Zimmerman, Long Range Planning Manager
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