NATCHEZ — From 1988 to 2008, a familiar face sat in the seat of Ward 5 alderman.

With July 1 merely one day away, David Massey has chosen to step into the background but his 20 years of service to the city won’t go away so easily.

Massey has seen Natchez grow and expand from a perspective most people can never have.

Two weeks before he was sworn in for the first time, he went to the dedication of the new Mississippi River Bridge.

The current Grand Soleil site was untouched and the visitor’s center hadn’t even been dreamed of.

“The visitor’s center was just two big holes with kudzu,” he said. “It was an eyesore.”

There was no Hampton Inn, there was no Isle of Capri casino boat.

“The convention center was just an old bus station,” he said.

There was no Country Inn and Suites, Roth Hill Road hadn’t been developed, and Memorial Park had no veteran’s memorial.

“I’m real proud of (the addition of a memorial),” said Massey, who is a veteran himself.

One accomplishment he said he feels was his greatest was expanding Duncan Park from a nine-hole golf course to 18 holes.

He called this initiative controversial because in order for the expansion, many trees had to be cut down.

“With the money from the sale of those trees, we planted back twice as many trees as we cut,” Massey said.

Also, the girls’ softball field behind Natchez High School and the T.M. Jennings baseball field were built from leftover money.

“We did a whole lot of good with that money,” he said.

Recreation has improved, seeing its peak improvements between 1988 and 1992, he said.

Massey was involved in bringing the federal courthouse to Natchez, the bluff stabilization project and the building of the community center.

Massey worked under four administrations, seeing David Armstrong, Larry “Butch” Brown, F. L. “Hank” Smith and Phillip West all sit behind the mayor’s desk.

“All of them had great ideas,” he said.

Massey said working under Brown was an honor.

“He had a vision like no other,” Massey said. “(He) used to say, ‘Never take no for an answer, no is just another request for more information.’”

Massey said Natchez saw some of its best times with Brown at the helm.

“Every time you went to a meeting you were proud of your city,” Massey said.

Massey said he’s also seen Natchez through some of its worst times and said he remembers hearing folks say “make sure the last person who leaves Natchez turns the lights out.”

Industry after industry shut down, impaling the city’s economy in a way where the light at the end of the tunnel seemed unreachable.

“We were actually dying on the vine,” he said.

Massey said the city leaders found a way to turn things around.

“Whenever the chips are down, you zero in on your strengths,” he said.

Natchez’ strength was tourism, and it was touted strongly and the economy began to pick up, so much so that industries started coming back to the area.

Massey said he can’t believe he’s served on the board for 20 years.

In 1988, Massey said the family budget was tight and he was trying to figure out a way to bring in a little more income.

“I prayed about it and I woke up one morning and said, ‘I think I’ve got it figured out,’” he said.

Joined with a love for his city, Massey said it was the perfect combination.

Full of vigor, he put his name in the pot and started pounding the pavement, running on a platform of fixing the water problem in Morgantown.

He said the Morgantown area had been annexed in and with that, moved from a private water provider to city water.

The extra pressure on the city pipes caused the water service in Morgantown to be poor.

He promised that if elected, he would go to war with Water Works to get them 24 months of free water service to compensate and he kept his promise.

His platform carried him through two run-offs, barely winning the first one by 10 votes, and Massey began his journey as Ward 5 alderman.

Though his platform adapted to what was needed at the time throughout his 20 years, he stuck with a skeletal platform of neighborhood rights.

He worked to stop Wal-Mart from paving roads through nearby neighborhoods, developed a Neighborhood Watch program in Oakland and partnered with the county to overlay roads in Oakland and Mount Carmel.

Massey said now just felt like the right time to step down from his position.

“Now after 20 years, I really felt like it was time for someone younger, someone with fresh new ideas (to take over,)” he said. “I think 20 years is more than enough to serve in one office.”

He said having the trust of the city is an immeasurable feeling.

“To know that you were elected by the people to serve this city in an honor and a privilege beyond compare,” Massey said.

Especially, he said in a ward that is about 50-50 when it comes to race.

“It meant to me I was serving all people,” he said.

As Massey makes plans to spend time with his grandchildren, he had some wisdom to impart to the board he’s leaving behind.

“Learn the budget department by department, line item by line item, ask questions and remember it’s not your money, it’s the taxpayers money,” he said. “Be very frugal with the taxpayers money.

“It’s probably the best thing you can do and be remembered for it.”