RESOLUTION No. __________, Series 2015
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A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUANITA PAULINE BURKS.
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBERS TANDY, SHANKLIN, WOOLDRIDGE, BRYANT-HAMILTON, GREEN, AND JAMES
WHEREAS, Juanita Pauline Burks, the daughter of the late Donna and Allen Farley, was born in Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky. She transitioned peacefully to Heaven on August 3, 2014 at home surrounded by her family.
WHEREAS, Juanita Burks was a community activist who received numerous honors and awards for her involvement and accomplishments in professional and civic life. Mrs. Burks received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Kentucky State University where she had attended before moving to Louisville in 1944. She was the chair of the American Diabetes Walk in 1998; member of the Columbia Suburban Hospital Board of Trustees, the Governor's Scholar's Board of Directors, the Spalding University Board of Trustees, the State of Kentucky Economic Development Council, and the Falls Regional Health Council Board of Directors. In addition, Mrs. Burks was a charter member of the Louisville Heritage Weekends, Pritchard Committee of Higher Education, and President Jimmy Carter Energy Board in Washington, DC. Mrs. Burks received the Louisville Defender Entrepreneur Award, Black Achiever of the Year; Outstanding Kentuckian Entrepreneur; the River City Business and Professional Women's Achievement Award. Mrs. Burks was featured in Money Magazine and Black Enterprise.
WHEREAS, Juanita Burks' first job was an elevator operator at the Commodore Apartments. In 1974 at the age of 54 years she started her first of several businesses including City Plaza Personnel, Tender Loving Care Nurses Registry, Medi-Health Stop Smoking & ,Weight Loss, Watterson Bootery, Burks Wholesale Liquor Distributorship and J.P. Burks Construction. Her minority recruiting firm, City Plaza Personnel recruited over 2,000 African Americans for Fortune 500 Companies throughout the United States ranging from secretaries to vice presidents. She worked as a private duty nurse at Jewish Hospital which motivated her to start Tender Loving Care Nurses Registry providing private duty nurses to hospitals and private homes. Another early job in her career was with Kaufman-Straus Department Store as a maid and an elevator operator. Forty-two years later, Burks Glass, Inc. installed over three and one-half million dollars' worth of glass in the interior of the Louisville Galleria.
WHEREAS, Juanita Burks was a homemaker to her family with a flair for decorating and hospitality that she shared with many family members and friends. Because of her love for hats, she was honored by Actor's Theatre as the "Hat Queen of Louisville".
WHEREAS, Juanita Burks was married for 51 years to the late Ishmon Burks. They had two children, Ishmon Burks and Donna Burks Sanders, and three grandchildren: Angela Maria Burks, Wallis Michelle Burks, and Chase Alexander Burks Sanders.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (THE COUNCIL) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: that Juanita Burks's life and service to Louisville Metro be honored and memorialized on Muhammad Ali and 4th street going north to Liberty and 4th street, in Louisville, Kentucky designated as "Juanita Burks Way". Department of Public Works is hereby directed to effect the same as soon as practicable following the passage of this resolution.
SECTION II: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
_______________________________ H. Stephen Ott Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ President of the Council |
_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O'Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________
Resolution Honoary Street Sign Banks ROC sjm Jan 2015