MORGANTOWN — Now in her 17th term as Granville’s elected mayor, Patty Lewis probably thought she’d just about seen it all.
Just about, but not quite.
Lewis was named the West Virginia Municipal League’s 2024 Mayor of the Year during the organization’s recent annual conference, in Huntington.
She didn’t see it coming.
“I was completely shocked,” Lewis told The Dominion Post. “I had no idea I was even nominated. I was completely surprised. After the emotions finally calmed down, because I did get pretty emotional up there, I was just grateful and happy for Granville.”
Latina Mayle, the town’s executive administrator — and likely conspirator in the nomination — said nobody is more deserving, or humble, than Lewis.
“We are so proud of the work that she does and how humbly she does that work,” Mayle told members of the Monongalia County Commission. “We just couldn’t be more proud to work with her and have her leadership.”
Lewis spent six years as Granville’s recorder before running for mayor. When her current term ends in June 2025, she’ll have been the town’s mayor for 34 years.
True to form, Lewis said the award was handed to her but belongs to the people of Granville.
“The bottom line is my name is on the plaque, but I’m happy that Granville got some recognition. We’re such a small community when you look at the over 200 municipalities across the state,” she said. “I hope the award is reassurance for the residents that we work every day to do the best we can for the town. That’s my hope.”
Further, she said, the award is confirmation that West Virginia’s small towns are capable of big things.
“Years ago, we couldn’t even afford to send anybody to a conference,” she said. “I really didn’t get involved with the municipal league until probably six or eight years ago. I guess we were always under the assumption that a small municipality doesn’t always have a lot to offer. But once we got involved, we realized that West Virginia is made up of a lot of Class IV municipalities just like ours … I’m just happy for Granville. I truly am. It’s something to be proud of.”
A rotation of four cities — Huntington, Wheeling, Charleston and Morgantown — take turns hosting the WVML’s annual conference.
Morgantown last hosted in 2022.
The city was presented an All-Star Community Award during this year’s event in recognition of its Fire Prevention & Education Program.
The program was created in 2018 to achieve “a measurable reduction” in fire-related emergencies and damages by raising awareness and improving preparedness through community engagement.
