Tom Muehlenbeck Scholarship

The Texas City Management Association Tom Muehlenbeck Scholarship is a one-time $2,500 scholarship available to a Texas City Management Association member's dependent child who is a high school graduating senior and has been accepted to a Texas college or university.

About Tom Muehlenbeck

Tom Muehlenbeck's career spans more than 45 years of distinguished public service to city management. He began his career as an assistant city manager for the City of Parsons, Kansas. His first position as city manager was in 1967 for the City of Atchison, Kansas, a small city of 10,000. Tom also served as city manager for the cities of:

  • College Park, Georgia
  • Galveston, Texas
  • Valdosta, Georgia
  • Virginia Beach, Virginia

He also served as deputy city manager for the City of Austin. In December 1987, he began his 23-year tenure as the city manager for the City of Plano, Texas.

Texas City Management Association

During his service in Plano, the city tripled in size. Tom has been an active member of the Texas City Management Association for 33 years. He served as president of the association in 2002. In the same year, the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) recognized him as the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the city management professional who has made significant contributions to the field of local government management for more than 10 years. In 2010, TCMA awarded him the Mentoring Award in Memory of Gary Gwyn.

Tom is one of only five TCMA members to receive the honor of Distinguished member since the association began in 1914. Tom also served as an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) regional vice president from 2007-2010 and was recognized by ICMA in 2010 for 45 years of membership. Tom has been the consummate professional city manager and has truly represented the essence of TCMA, its values, and its ideals with his dedicated years of service.

Application Process

Please complete the application form, attach a current résumé with educational history and a letter of application, and mail to the address given on the form by the date indicated on the form. The TCMA Membership Committee is charged with reviewing applications and making a recommendation to the TCMA Board. The scholarship award announcement is made in the spring.

Download an application form now (PDF).