Dr. Willie W. Herenton handed over his letter of retirement to City Council Chairman Myron Lowery Thursday afternoon, making his departure from the mayor’s office, well, official.

Here is my at-a-glance look at Dr. Herenton’s farewell address in the Hall of Mayors in City Hall:

•    The longest-serving mayor in the history of the City of Memphis gave thanks to many people, beginning with his mother. Others included his pastor (Rev. James Netters), Rev. Frank McRae (noted for his courage as a white minister speaking up for black sanitation workers in 1968), members of his administrations and a special thanks to the voters.

•    He made reference to the “People’s Convention” that preceded his historic first election in 1991.

•    We all are part of one race, the human race, he said.

•    In 1991, African Americans and about 3,000 whites broke barriers, electing the first person who looked like him to serve as the mayor of Memphis, he said.

•    Dr. Herenton said he was prepared for the groundbreaking task. Noting his background as City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Herenton said he probably was the most prepared person ever to become mayor.

•    “Racial polarization is in deep” in Memphis, Dr. Herenton said.

•    He said he was “keeping it real,” a term misunderstood by some, but understood by the “people I communicate with…”

•    Dr. Herenton noted his intention to meet with Lowery (the designated Mayor Pro Tem) and listed 8 imperatives for future mayors.

1.  Promote economic development. “We’ve done a good job” of that, he said, referring to his administrations.
2. Government consolidation, including city and county schools.
3. Single-source funding of schools.
4. Mayors must promote the growth of small and minority businesses, The owners of those businesses must be supported by corporate Memphis.
5. Be vigilant in fighting crime. “I support Blue Crush (the Memphis Police Department crime fighting strategy)…The trend is going in the right direction.” He said the other elements of the judicial system must engage in preventative and intervention kinds of activities. He said young people must be taught to do things the right way, including having a work ethic and church-based values.
6. Unity. The city, he said, never has been unified, rejecting the oft-repeated suggestion that he has divided the city. He noted his disdain for the notion of unity being predicated on a winning basketball team. Unity is needed on getting kids educated, cleaning up the slums, no barriers to jobs, and on “black folks making some money.”
7. Promote tax equity between the city and county.
8.  Promote tourism. “You have to invest to get a return.” He noted his efforts in this regard and chided the media for adding issues to the mix that weighed down the process.  (Issues such as whether he stood to gain financially.)

•    Shifting gears, Dr. Herenton said his mother “is extremely happy to see me retire.”

•    While some believe he is retiring because he is in trouble, and others think he struck a deal, “none of that nonsense” is true, he said.

•    Dr. Herenton said he has seen the strain and stress register on his mother as she read of him being associated with words such as “under investigation” and “probe.”

•    Recalling conversations with his mother, Dr. Herenton said, “I said mama don’t worry. I got this…What I can’t handle is you crying….They hate on your son…I said mama I’m a real leader. I ain’t scared…She said. ‘boy, I pray for you and your bodyguards everyday.”…I said mama, keep praying though…I said mama they want to tarnish the legacy…I said mama, we made history…There are some people who don’t like that…”

•    Shifting gears again, Dr. Herenton turned to “all the people who supported me for five elections. You have placed confidence in me. That means so much to me.”

•    Dr. Herenton then spoke to anyone he has offended in his 18 years as mayor. “I am man enough to say I apologize if I offended you…”

•    In a move he described as “being respectful” to Council chairman Lowery and the Memphis City Council, Dr. Herenton asked Lowery to join him at the podium. After Lowery did, Dr. Herenton read a brief letter of resignation.

•    “I could not give you this letter when you (the Council) kind of demanded it,” he said, a remark that stirred audible support from many in the hall. “But I have submitted the letter…”

•    Dr. Herenton said he would meet with (Mayor Pro Tem) Lowery after he answered media questions, and that his CAO would also.

•    He shook Lowery’s hand and uttered his last words: “I wish you well.”