Leadership Springfield presents Goddard with annual award

Leadership Springfield honored longtime public health leader Clay Goddard with its annual O. Franklin Kenworthy Award for Outstanding Leadership.

Goddard, who recently concluded his tenure as director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, received the award during Leadership Springfield's annual class reunion event yesterday, according to a news release.

“As we reflect on this truly unique year, there is no one more deserving of this award than Clay Goddard," said Carrie Richardson, executive director of Leadership Springfield, in the release. "As a community, we saw Clay build trust, show compassion, provide stability and create hope for Springfield.

"His calm, steady, strong and compassionate leadership throughout his career in public health demonstrates the Leadership Springfield mission of inspire, develop, connect and serve."

Goddard is a graduate Leadership Springfield Signature Class 21.

Goddard in March became senior director of public health transformation at the Missouri Foundation for Health. He previously led the Health Department since 2017. Goddard on Aug. 17 is scheduled for a live interview for Springfield Business Journal's 12 People You Need to Know editorial series.

Leadership Springfield's Kenworthy Award is named in honor of the late Franklin Kenworthy, a graduate of the organization's third Signature Class. The award was established in 1989 to recognize community service and leadership, according to the release.

Leadership Springfield spokesperson Ashley Clair said the Kenworthy Award is the only one the organization gives out.

The leadership development group last month named 80 people who will participate in its next two Signature Class programs.