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This Place Matters!
Historic Preservation Month 2008
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Heritage Awards
About the Keynote Speaker
 Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. is widely considered one of the most visionary and highly effective governmental leaders in America. First elected Mayor in December 1975, Mayor Riley is serving an unprecedented ninth term. Under his leadership, Charleston has increased its commitment to racial harmony and progress, achieved a substantial decrease in crime, experienced a remarkable revitalization of its historic downtown business district, built the beautiful Waterfront Park, developed nationally-acclaimed affordable housing and experienced unprecedented growth in Charleston’s size and population. The City of Charleston is recognized as one of the most livable and progressive cities in the United States.
Mayor Riley has held numerous national leadership positions and received many awards and distinctions. He served as President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors from 1986-87 and currently serves on the USCM’s Executive Committee. He was given the Outstanding Mayors Award by the National Urban Coalition and the Distinguished Citizen Award by the National Association of Realtors and was the first recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s J. C. Nichols Prize for Visionary Urban Development. He received the Keystone Award by the American Architectural Foundation for his exemplary leadership to those who use architecture to transform their community. He received the Scenic America Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and the first U. S. Conference of Mayors President’s Award in 2000; he was awarded the American Society of Landscape Architects 2004 Olmstead Medal, and received the South Carolina Governor’s Award in the Humanities in 2005.
Through his lifetime of experience in Charleston, Mayor Riley has become a leading expert on urban design and livability issues and is a frequent speaker across the country on these topics. He was a founder of the Mayors' Institute for City Design and has provided critical urban design support to mayors across America. Mayor Riley received the 1994 Thomas Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Architects for Public Architecture for “his exceptional leadership and ‘Jeffersonian’ vision in redefining the promise and, ultimately the future, of our nation and its cities.” In 1997, he received the Seaside Prize from the Seaside Institute for exemplary leadership and contributions to high-quality urban design throughout America. The American Society of Landscape Architects considers him an Honorary Member because of his leadership and vision.
updated 5/16/2008
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