By awarding him honorary citizenship, the municipal bodies recognized the outstanding services he had rendered in the course of his tireless work in local politics from 1960 to 1980, including eight years as a full-time member of the municipal council responsible for schools, culture and sport and twelve years as Lord Mayor of the state capital of Wiesbaden.

During this time, he made a name for himself in the areas of urban development, promotion of local public transport, expansion of the spa and congress sector, social housing, commercial development, securing the energy supply and the establishment and expansion of town twinning relations.

Former Lord Mayor Rudi Schmitt, born on January 8, 1928, received the Badge of Honor of the State Capital of Wiesbaden and the Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his work.