Murfreesboro Parks & Rec Department employee Michael Philpott has been named STARS award recipient for September. Philpott was honored prior to the Murfreesboro City Council meeting, held Thursday, Sept. 19.

On Aug. 5, Philpott was participating in the pickle ball program at McFadden Community Center when a patron began to have a cardiac emergency. Philpott took immediate action in administering an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device to assist the patron.  

Philpott has served the City and the Parks & Recreation Department since 1993. He was first hired part-time as an assistant athletic coordinator and hired full-time in 1998 as the recreation facility coordinator. 

Mayor Shane McFarland recognized Philpott during the Murfreesboro City Council meeting with the STARS award for Outstanding Performance: "Succeeding Through Attitudes Reflecting Service Excellence." 

Human Resources Director Pam Russell joined Mayor McFarland in presenting the STARS award to Philpott. In the nomination, the following narrative explanation was provided by City employee Nate Williams, director of Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation: 

"On the morning of Aug. 5, 2019, while participating in the pickle ball program at McFadden Community center, a patron began to have a cardiac emergency. Recognizing the seriousness of the emergency, Michael immediately grabbed the AED and went to aid the patron after ensuring that EMS had been summoned. Michael applied the AED pads and administered a shock and also performed CPR with the help of patrons until EMS arrived to take the patron to the hospital.    

"Due to the decisive actions of Michael, the patron has made a full recovery, and we looked forward to seeing him back on the pickle ball court very soon."

The STARS Service Excellence program is intended to recognize outstanding employees who embody the city’s standards for service excellence and exemplify the city’s core service values. The purpose of the STARS award is to recognize and reward those employees who go above and beyond their normal job duties in providing outstanding customer service to internal and external customers.

Photo: Michael Philpott, center with his parents Wendell Philpott and Myra Philpott at the Murfreesboro City Council meeting, held Thursday, Sept. 19.