RESOLUTION No. __________, Series 2017
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A RESOLUTION HONORING GEORGE L. BURNEY, SR. BY DEDICATING WEST HILL STREET FROM 22ND STREET TO WILSON AVENUE TO BE NAMED “GEORGE L. BURNEY, SR. WAY” IN HIS HONOR (AS AMENDED).
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBERS:WOMAN MARY C. WOOLRIDGE, CHERI BRYANT HAMILTON, STUART BENSON, BARBARA SHANKLIN, DAN JOHNSON AND VICKI AUBREY WELCH
WHEREAS, Mr. George L. Burney, Sr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky on November 29, 1927 and was raised by his Grandmother, Mother Martha Jones; and
WHEREAS, Mr. George Burney is marred to Barbara Westbrook Burney; and
WHEREAS, Mr. George Burney has one son, George Burney, Jr; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney fought for Civil Rights for nearly 60 years in Louisville, dating back as far as 1954 when he and Bishop C. Eubank Tucker conducted a sit-in at the Louisville Greyhound bus terminal which led to its integration; and
WHEREAS, Mr. George Burney is a member of King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney received numerous accolades for his work for equal rights for all people, including but not limited to, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Award in 2016, induction into the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights’ Hall of Fame in 2012, Louisville Metro Police Department’s Volunteer of the Year in 2010, and top honors from Kentucky Senator Gerald Neal and Louisville’s Council Members Mary C. Woolridge, Cheri Bryant Hamilton, the late Councilmen George Unseld and Willie Bright, and Alderman Paul Bather;
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney also fought for civil rights in other parts of the country, including Portland, Oregon where he organized PRIDE, Peoples Rights In Demanding Equality and in Portland, Oregon;
WHEREAS, in 1972, Mr. Burney, through his non-profit PRIDE Inc., started the annual Christmas Party, Easter Egg Hunts, Thanksgiving Day Dinner for Seniors in the West End and Portland neighborhoods of Louisville giving away bikes, toys, etc. to underprivileged children; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Burney was also an entertainer-he was the first Black D.J. at W.L.O.U., the first Black dancer on Louisville’s first T.V. station and that entertained at the World’s Fair in Seattle in 1962, and he performed at the Apollo in New York with other famous people such as Red Fox, James Brown, and Ella Fitzgerald and toured with the Bob Hope Show;
WHERAS, Mr. Burney and PRIDE have kept the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King alive by hosting and annual motorcade celebrating, Dr. King's birthday for 45 Years.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: George Burney’s service to Louisville Metro is hereby recognized with the placement of honorary street signs located on West Hill Street from 22nd Street to Wilson Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, and so designated as “George L. Burney, Sr. Way.”
SECTION II: The Department of Public Works is hereby directed to move forward with fabrication and installation of an honorary signs upon the passage of this Resolution and the receipt of funds to cover the expense.
SECTION III: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
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_______________________________ H. Stephen Ott Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David Yates President of the Council |
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_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________
R-064-17