RESOLUTION No. __________, Series 2015
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A RESOLUTION HONORING THE SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY OF REV. ARTHUR SMITH
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCILWOMAN CHERI BRYANT HAMILTON
WHEREAS, Rev. Arthur Smith was born on February 21, 1943 to the late James Arthur and Katherine E. Smith in Louisville, KY and was the eldest of six sons. He is a product of the Old Louisville Public School System (Central High), and later attended Georgetown College and Simmons Bible College. He went on to do further ministerial studies and various denominational seminars and served in the General Association of Kentucky Baptists and Central District Baptist Associations, respectively.
WHEREAS, in October 1966, Pastor Smith accepted the pastorate of Portland Baptist Church, now known as the Portland Memorial Missionary Baptist Church. Since that time, he served as pastor, leader, counselor, advisor and dedicated servant for 47 years until his death on February 25, 2013.
WHEREAS, under his visionary leadership, Portland grew physically and spiritually in adding properties on all three corners of 38th and Market Street and the Community Laundry across the Street, spiritually guiding the formation of many outreach ministries including: West Louisville Community Ministries; PortShaw Community Development Corporation, which houses the area "Dare to Care" food distribution site, AA meetings, community evangelism and the Senior Travel Ministry.
WHEREAS, in order to share the Gospel with the community, Pastor Smith had a vision for the community. In 1978, he initiated a live radio broadcast each Sunday morning. In 2008, Saturday Morning Breakfast was formed to engage youth in the community in an encouraging Christian environment. In 1967, the annual Residential Church Camp was launched, serving youth ages 6-14 for an entire week, providing counseling, fellowship and fun in a Christian environment.
WHEREAS, Pastor Smith was the catalyst for many other ministries including the Church-wide Christian Education Institute (formerly known as the School of Religion), Missions & Evangelism, Officers Spouses & Widows in 1990, Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study in 1993, Jesus Alone Ministry in 2000, Joyful Gifts in 2004, Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, Helping Hands, Men's Ministry, When Sisters Meet, Music Department and Ushers.
WHEREAS, Pastor Smith held many positions in the community and was an advocate to prevent the decay of our youth and the prevention or limit of alcohol sales and drug trafficking abuse. He forged a war against alcohol sales and drug trafficking in the West End by promoting the Wet/Dry vote for the area which led to businesses being unable to sell alcohol in our already saturated neighborhood. He has been affiliated with many organizations and remained a faithful worker in the community despite challenging health bouts.
WHEREAS, Pastor Smith was the former Commissioner for the Housing Authority of Louisville and former Youth Director of Region 3 of the NAACP. Pastor Smith was a Civil Rights advocate and led the drive to lower the voting age to 18; former Vice President of the Louisville Branch NAACP; former Youth President of the Louisville Chapter of the NAACP. He held many positions in the community during his 10 year Elected Official tenure as Tenth Ward Alderman, and chaired the Housing and Safety Committee; established the Tenth Ward Advisory Council; Co-founder of the West Louisville Community Ministries; served as Interim Pastor for two years at First Baptist Church of Georgetown, KY; served as Social Service Director of the Old Louisville Police Court under Judge Benjamin Shobe and former Judge Neville Tucker. He taught several years in the Progressive National Baptist Convention in the Sunday School Department; taught several religious institutes in Kentucky and Indiana; recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award at Lampton Baptist Church and Shawnee High School; recipient of the Kentucky Colonel Award and the prestigious Delahanty-Shobe-Tucker Civil Rights Award, the district 5 Molly Leanard Community Service Award, and various other honors and awards too numerous to mention.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (THE COUNCIL) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: That Rev. Arthur Smith's life and service to Louisville Metro be honored and memorialized by having signage installed from 38 Street and Market Street to Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky designating it as "Rev. Arthur Smith Way"; and the 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.
_______________________________ Stephen Ott Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David W. Tandy President of the Council |
_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O'Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________
Resolution Honoring Rev. Arthur Smith ROCsjm 4-6-15