Well-wishers turned out on Friday morning for a farewell reception honoring outgoing Butler County Schools superintendent Mike Looney.

Looney, who just completed his doctorate from the University of Alabama, was introduced as “Dr. Looney” by BOE president Joe Lisenby.

“Dr. Looney hasn’t accomplished everything we would have liked during his time here, but he has accomplished a great deal,” Lisenby said. He applauded Looney for becoming an active part of the community during his four-and-a-half years as schools superintendent in the county.

Lisenby presented Looney with a plaque of appreciation and asked him to display it prominently in his new office in Williamson County to let people know he’d been properly educated and trained in Alabama.

“Butler County is a great place to live and work. I have made life-long friends here,” Looney said.

In his remarks following the presentation, Looney encouraged support for the 12 mil tax issue which is due to come up for renewal in 2010, saying it is vital to the health of the system and without those funds, “this system will collapse.”

He also encouraged those present to take an active interest in the pursuit of a new superintendent.

“You need to be involved in the process. After all, it’s for your own good; good for the prosperity of the community and most importantly, for the children,” Looney said.