City Manager Richard Slozak to retire
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on June 8, 2004 2:04 PM
City Manager Richard Slozak, 56, announced his retirement today, after 33 years of service with Goldsboro.
Slozak's retirement will be effective Dec. 29.
He started as the assistant to the city manager, and began to coordinate the Community Development Program. In 1976, he was given the additional title of Federal Aid Assistant to the city manager, and he began to be responsible for making application for federal funds.
Slozak
In 1978 he became the city's finance director, and held that position until he became city manager in 1986.
He was born and raised in Palmer, Mass., and received a bachelor of arts degree in political science in 1970.
From there he went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a masters degree in public administration.
According to a 1978 profile in the News-Argus, Slozak almost became a musician.
He played trumpet in high school and college, and had a five-piece band called "The Merry Polka Makers." At one time, he said, he considered going to music school and even went for an interview at the Boston Conservatory.
He decided against a music career, fearing he might lose his love of music if he made it his profession.
There have been a number of significant achievements during Slozak's tenure, the most notable being the establishment of a first-class sewer treatment system.
In his retirement letter Slozak said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his years of service with the city and the "numerous courtesies extended to me not only by the citizens, but also by the elected officials with whom I have had the opportunity to serve."