Sugar Land, TX – The Texas City Attorneys Association recently recognized City Attorney Meredith Riede with the Galen Sparks Award for Outstanding Public Service.

The award annually recognizes the top attorney in Texas for significant and distinguished career achievements in the field of municipal law.

“This comes as no surprise to me,” said City Manager Michael W. Goodrum. “Meredith is absolutely the best in the business, and I couldn’t be more proud that she continues to be recognized by her peers for making a difference every single day. There’s no one I trust and respect more than Meredith. Her expertise is unmatched, and her passion for public service is unparalleled. She’s a trusted friend to all of us who always has our back, and she’s an irreplaceable talent who has helped create a life better than our residents can imagine.”

Riede was appointed city attorney in 2014 after a national search. The city manager at the time said other applicants had varying degrees of experience, but it was clear that Riede had the municipal and legal experience to be an outstanding city attorney at the City of Sugar Land -- and possessed the experience and skills needed to ensure Sugar Land continued to grow and prosper  She was hired by Sugar Land as an assistant city attorney in 2000 after serving as the City’s legal intern for three years.  

One of her proudest accomplishments is the recent formation of the Sugar Land City Care Club, a non-profit foundation that was established for the sole purpose of providing financial and other assistance to City of Sugar Land employees who experience an unexpected crisis. The program was recently utilized to financially support the family of an employee who died in the line duty. 

Her expertise has contributed to every significant city accomplishment since 2000.  She has helped the city achieve its vision to grow from a small suburban town to a thriving, nationally recognized city known for an economy that fuels the region and attracts visitors from across the county. Projects like Sugar Land Town Towns Square, Constellation Field, the Smart Financial Centre, the Museum of the Natural Science, Sugar Land Regional Airport and many more would not have been possible without Riede’s contributions. 

The Texas City Attorney’s Association also credited Riede’s passion to grow, encourage and guide others through extensive mentoring efforts that not only benefit Sugar Land but also the municipal legal profession.