Tony Cox, Radford's city manager since 2002, will leave his job next month to take a similar position in Tennessee.

Cox will become city administrator of Morristown, Tenn., an industrial city of about 26,000.

Cox will leave about Jan. 18, said Radford Mayor Tom Starnes, and Assistant City Manager David Ridpath will serve as interim manager.

In an e-mail Wednesday, Cox said: "I've been in Radford for nearly eight years, my daughters have both entered college, and this seemed like a good time to reevaluate my personal and professional life."

He said the move allows his family to downsize its home, return to his roots in east Tennessee and be closer to extended family.

"Morristown offers new professional challenges and opportunities. The move seems the right fit for this stage of my life," he said.

Radford council members and officials have yet to determine a plan for hiring a new city manager since Cox let them know of his resignation Monday, Starnes said.

Cox replaces Morristown City Administrator James Crumley, who retired earlier this year but has since taken over as assistant city manager of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

According to his Morristown contract, dated Dec. 1, Cox will have a base salary of $114,261 with a 5 percent increase after 90 days and a $550 per month stipend in "vehicle allowance to be used to purchase, lease or own, operate and maintain a vehicle."

Cox was chosen from a pool of 83 applicants because of his "strong financial background and communication skills," as well as his personality, Morristown Mayor Sami Barile said.

Before leaving, Cox plans to work closely with Ridpath on next year's budget, which has been complicated by the upcoming closure of the Intermet foundry, one of the city's largest electricity users, Starnes said.

"We wish him well in his new professional endeavors, and we're happy he has been able to continue in government," Starnes said.

"The citizens of Morristown will benefit from having Tony has manager as the citizens of Radford have."

Starnes listed Cox's accomplishments as clarity improvements to the budget process, capital improvement projects such as storm drainage and water improvements, additions to the library and working to replace the city's public safety building.

"Radford is a special community and I appreciate the opportunity to have worked here," Cox wrote in the e-mail.

"We have an outstanding staff and the City is strong. I hope that in some small way I have helped contribute to their betterment. I know that my family and I have certainly benefited from our time here."