Special photo by John Hasler
City Purchasing Agent Donnie Wimbley, left, chats with City Manager Howard Brown Jr. at a farewell reception for Brown on Thursday attended by many people. Brown assumed the duties as the city’s top administrator toward the end of Jan. 27, 2014, when he was sworn in as Muskogee’s 27th city manager. He tendered his resignation Nov. 20 after he was hired to serve in the same capacity at Bell, Calif. Brown plans to remain at his post through the end of the year.