MADISON – Leroy Jackson has a specific motivation for his work in Madison Parks & Recreation Department.

“What I do is for the children, which are our future,” Jackson said.

After working 29 years full time for the rec department, Jackson was honored as 2020 Employee of Year.

A lifelong resident of Madison, Jackson graduated from Bob Jones High School in 1982. He started working for the city in 1989 as a full-time temporary employee as Recreation Maintenance Worker at what is now Madison Senior Center.

After three years, his status changed to full time. He eventually was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor, involving landscaping/beautification, dugout top installation/repair, irrigation maintenance and upkeep at Palmer Park. He also maintains 90 acres of playing surface, landscapes at Arrowhead and will transport new, mobile restrooms at trail heads starting in December.

During his career, Jackson has seen extensive expansion at Palmer Park with the Lower Quad, four baseball fields and two football fields. Westco Softball Complex has two more fields (six total). The city built the Hand-n-Hand ADA-compliant playgound, Mill Creek Dog Park and Bradford and Mill Creek greenways.

“The funny thing is, when I started, we had 13 employees at Palmer Park. Now, we have three with more than triple the fields, teams and tournament play,” Jackson said.

Jackson spearheaded revitalization and renaming for Madison Memory Garden Cemetery on Hughes Road. He served on the Community Action Partnership’s Board of Directors for 10 years.

He is married to Sheena Jackson. Leroy’s stepson Hiram attends Monrovia Middle School and stepson Jarmarius is a Sparkman High School student.

Leroy’s son Russell Jackson and wife Jennifer live Orlando, Fla. Russell works at Orlando Hospital and is tight-end coach for University of Stetson. Leroy’s granddaughters are Zoe and Eden.

Leroy’s son Corien McClendon and wife Jalenta of Huntsville are parents of Carter, Corrianna and Tinki McClendon.

“My favorite hobby is drag racing. Rest and relaxation at the beach where we visit multiple times each year are a close second,” he said.