Nomination for the HUD50 Award – Katie S. Worsham
Ms. Katie S. Worsham was a quintessential leader who served in various leadership positions
during her 40 year tenure at HUD. She was an inspiration to those who worked with her, and a
motivator who ensured her staff understood that they could take on any challenge and succeed.
Ms. Worsham retired from HUD as the Community Planning and Development (CPD) Director
of the Fort Worth Office where she managed more than 350 CPD Program grants and directed a
staff of over 30 persons to achieve the delivery of CPD programs. Through her work with CPD
clients, stakeholders and partners, she led her staff to ensure that countless persons of low and
moderate income benefited from community development programs that resulted in the creation
of viable communities, the provision of affordable housing, and the development of economic
opportunities. Her outstanding leadership and dedication as the Fort Worth CPD Director was
recognized and lauded by the Region VI Regional Administrator, Headquarters CPD Managers,
Local elected officials and other Federal partners. Ms. Worsham made significant contributions
and distinguished herself as a leader throughout her career at HUD. She provided critical
leadership and guidance to CPD staff and clients, as well as other HUD Program offices, local
partners and stakeholders, in pursuit of the mission of the Department as she served in
management roles in the Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Fort Worth HUD Offices. As a model
of compassion and a consummate leader, counselor and motivator, Ms. Worsham continually
demonstrated a standard of excellence in leadership that others have emulated.
Ms. Worsham was an exceptional leader during one of the most difficult times in the
Department: the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The 1995
bombing destroyed the Federal building, and left 168 people dead and more than 600 injured. At
that time, Ms. Worsham was the CPD Director in the Little Rock HUD Office, and she was
appointed to serve as the Oklahoma City Director to shepherd the staff who suffered through that
horrific incident and period of mourning and loss, and to guide them through their challenges and
difficulties to a sense of restoration of some balance and normalcy. Ms. Worsham immediately
assessed the gravity of the situation and ascertained the needs of the staff, clients and partners.
She took actions to ensure that in spite of the circumstances, there were services and resources in
place to support staff and to provide guidance and direction to HUD clients as they overcame
obstacles to carry out CPD programs and the mission of the Department. Ms. Worsham’s
extraordinary leadership ability in the face of tremendous adversity was demonstrated as she
successfully negotiated appropriate work environments while maintaining sensitivity to the
difficult situations encountered by the staff as they were able, over time, to return to work. She
continually coached, inspired and encouraged the CPD staff to a heightened level of performance
and accomplishment in support of the Department’s mission. Ms. Worsham’s effective,
compassionate leadership in the Oklahoma City HUD Office was recognized as outstanding by
the Region VI Regional Administrator and CPD Headquarters.
Ms. Worsham also marshalled superior leadership skills as the Fort Worth CPD Director when in
August 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the gulf coast and the city of New Orleans. The
devastating Hurricanes resulted in the evacuation of the city and the closure of the New Orleans
HUD Office. As the CPD Director in Fort Worth, Ms. Worsham undertook the additional
responsibility for managing and directing over 100 CPD grantees, clients and partners in the
State of Louisiana. She was at the helm of leading several CPD staff from the New Orleans
Office and a number of volunteer CPD staff from other Field Offices throughout the country,
along with the Fort Worth CPD staff, in providing extensive assistance and supporting those
impacted by the Hurricanes. The combined CPD staff members made a formidable team; and
under Ms. Worsham’s leadership, the superior level of service and assistance provided to CPD
grantees and clients in Louisiana and in the Fort Worth Office jurisdiction was not diminished.
Her exceptional leadership was critical in ensuring that the Department’s mission was in the
forefront in the minds of the staff so they could efficiently deliver CPD programs to grantees in
Louisiana and provide technical and programmatic assistance in overcoming obstacles to
effective community development and disaster recovery. Ms. Worsham again distinguished
herself as a model leader who, though considerate of the extreme challenges faced by staff and
grantees, used extraordinary leadership skills to maintain focus and emphasis on CPD programs
management and implementation in pursuit of HUD’s mission.
Ms. Worsham’s commitment to HUD’s mission and her high standards of excellence, as
evidenced by her exceptional leadership and contributions to the Department, had a positive
impact in the area of community development, and improved the lives of people in the
communities in the Southwest. She is extremely worthy of being recognized with this
prestigious award. These examples of her distinguished leadership serve as a model to all and
her positive impact in HUD’s work demonstrates her commitment to the pursuit of the
Department’s mission.