E. Allen (Sonny) Culverhouse is City Manager Emeritus of Lynchburg, Virginia. He is also a Visiting Scholar at U.Va.’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Sonny began his thirty-seven year, public service career in Virginia Beach where he served as Director of Personnel. He moved to Lynchburg in 1971 and advanced from Director of Personnel and Management Services to Deputy City Manager for Administration and finally to City Manager in 1979. He is very active in his profession and community. Sonny is Regional Chair of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership (of U.Va.), active in Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity, and a charter member of the U.Va’s Senior Executive Advisory Committee (1984). He has been deeply committed to management and leadership development as well as “quality first” training for many years. Sonny was awarded the prestigious 1996 ICMA Distinguished Service Award for his continuing dedication and contribution to the development of local government managers. He was also the 1989 ICMA recipient of the Clarence E. Ridley Award for In-Service Training. Other awards include the PRO OPERA CIVICA Award of the Greater Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce and recipient of the Brotherhood Citation of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Sonny received his education at RPI (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and Old Dominion University.  He's also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the charter 1985 Senior Executive Institute.  Noted for his natural abilities in counseling as well as his keen interest in the development of others, he's an Accredited Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).