HomeMy WebLinkAbout44-23 RESOLUTION113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
Resolution: 44-23
File Number: 2023-421
AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL BLAZERS:
A RESOLUTION TO HONOR AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL BLAZERS OF FAYETTEVILLE
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville Black Heritage Preservation Commission requests that the City of Fayetteville
recognize and honor Jessie Bryant, Frank Johnson, Tony Johnson, and John L Colbert as governmental Trail Blazers in
Fayetteville; and
WHEREAS, Jessie Bryant was elected and served honorably and efficiently as the first African American Washington
County Quorum Court Justice of the Peace, and founded the Northwest Arkansas Free Health Clinic; and
WHEREAS, Chief of Police Frank Johnson served as the first African American Fayetteville Police Chief for the last
two years of his twenty-five years of dedicated and honorable service in the Fayetteville Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Tony Johnson honorably served as the first African American Fayetteville Fire Chief for four
years until retiring in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Dr. John L Colbert capped his lengthy, honorable, and effective service in the Fayetteville School District
as a principal, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent by becoming the first African American
Fayetteville School District Superintendent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE,
ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby expresses its gratitude, commendation
and thanks to Quorum Court Member Jessie Bryant, Chief of Police Frank Johnson, Fire Chief Tony Johnson, and
School District Superintendent Dr. John L Colbert for all of their excellent and valuable service to Fayetteville and all
of its citizens and for being role models, servant leaders and trail blazers in our journey toward equality, justice, and
respect for the worth of all persons.
Page 1
Resolution: 44-23
File Number.' 2023-421
PASSED and APPROVED on February 21, 2023
Appralrafl-
L
Li Id
Page 2
Attest:
Zara axton, City Cler reasurer
CITY OF
W41iFAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 21, 2023
TO: Mayor Jordan and City Council
THRU:
FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY COUNCIL MEMO
2023-421
RECOMMENDATION:
Council Members D'Andre Jones and Sonia Harvey are sponsoring a resolution to honor African American
trailblazers of Fayetteville
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION:
BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS: Agenda Request - Honor African American Trail Blazers
Mailing address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
City of Fayetteville, Arkansas 113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
- Legislation Text
File #: 2023-421
A RESOLUTION TO HONOR AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL BLAZERS OF FAYETTEVILLE
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville Black Heritage Preservation Commission requests that the City of
Fayetteville recognize and honor Jessie Bryant, Frank Johnson, Tony Johnson, and John L Colbert as
governmental Trail Blazers in Fayetteville; and
WHEREAS, Jessie Bryant was elected and served honorably and efficiently as the first African
American Washington County Quorum Court Justice of the Peace, and founded the Northwest Arkansas
Free Health Clinic; and
WHEREAS, Chief of Police Frank Johnson served as the first African American Fayetteville Police
Chief for the last two years of his twenty-five years of dedicated and honorable service in the
Fayetteville Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Tony Johnson honorably served as the first African American Fayetteville Fire
Chief for four years until retiring in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Dr. John L Colbert capped his lengthy, honorable, and effective service in the Fayetteville
School District as a principal, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent by becoming the
first African American Fayetteville School District Superintendent.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby expresses its gratitude,
commendation and thanks to Quorum Court Member Jessie Bryant, Chief of Police Frank Johnson, Fire
Chief Tony Johnson, and School District Superintendent Dr. John L Colbert for all of their excellent and
valuable service to Fayetteville and all of its citizens and for being role models, servant leaders and trail
blazers in our journey toward equality, justice, and respect for the worth of all persons.
Page 1
Civic Clerk Item No.: 2023-
AGENDA REQUEST FORM
FOR: Council Meeting of February 21, 2023
FROM: Council Members Sonia Harvey and D'Andre Jones
ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TITLE AND SUBJECT:
A RESOLUTION TO HONOR AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAIL BLAZERS
OF FAYETTEVILLE
APPROVED FOR AGENDA:
City dounc� Member
Sonia Harvey
Al"p, � e
City Council ember
D'Andre Jones
City Attorney Kk Williams
Approved as to form
Date
G (- Z 063
Date
�;;
Date
Williams, Kit
From: D'Andre Jones <dre91732000@9mail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2023 1:49 PM
To: Williams, Kit
Cc Bostick, Britin; Harvey, Sonia; Paxton, Kara
Subject: Re: Resolution to honor trailblazers
- - - ....... -.... .s...=�=u uum outsiae or the City of Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the content is safe.
Thanks Kit Sounds good to me
On Mon, Feb 6, 2023 at 1:47 PM Williams, Kit <kwilliams(dfayetteville-ar ov> wrote:
D'Andre and Sonia,
Thanks you for your request for a City Council resolution to honor these four worthy persons. Attached is my
draft Resolution for your review and consideration. Please let me know if any changes are needed. If not, please email
back your approval so we can get this on the February 219 agenda.
Kit
From: D'Andre Jones <dre91732000@ mail com>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2023 11:20 AM
To: Bostick, Britin <bbostickPfavetteville-ar ov>; Paxton, Kara <kapaxtonfalfayetteville-ar eov>; Williams, Kit
<kwilliams(dfavetteville-ar eov>
Subject: Fwd: Resolution to honor trailblazers
-- -1- ^^. I, .......uvm oucsiae or the City or Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the content is safe.
The City of Fayetteville's Black Heritage Preservation Commission is proud to recognize the
following trailblazers who made history and contributed to our community's progress toward
representation, inclusion, and diversity. The Commission is grateful for their contributions to
our city and looks forward to honoring them in our work in the years to come as well as
expanding this list to honor additional trailblazers in our community.
Resolution to publicly recognize and honor the following first African Americans to serve in
key leadership in the city of Fayetteville.
Tony Johnson
Tony Johnson was the first African American chief of the Fayetteville Fire Department. Johnson
served the city for four years as chief before retiring in 2009, a period during which the city
added three stations to its roster of fire stations.
Frank Johnson
Frank Johnson was the first African American chief of the Fayetteville Police Department.
Johnson served 25 years with the department, serving as patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant,
captain, and chief where he spent two years leading the department.
Jessie Bryant
Jessie Bryant, a lifelong resident of Fayetteville, was the first African American to be elected to
the Washington County quorum Court. Active in all facets of community service, Bryant also
founded the Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center, known today as Welcome Health.
Dr. John Colbert
John Colbert, superintendent of the Fayetteville School District, is the first African American to
serve Fayetteville Public Schools as a principal, assistant superintendent, associate
superintendent, and superintendent. Colbert is the namesake of the new John L. Colbert Middle
School, located on Rupple Road and set to open August 2023.
Council members Jones and Harvey are cc sponsors
Best Regards,
D'Andre L. Jones - MSW, MA
Fayetteville City Council
Ward 1 Position 2
"Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college
degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need
a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From:
Harvey, Sonia
Sent:
Tuesday, February 07, 2023 8:59 AM
To:
Williams, Kit, 'D'Andre Jones'
Cc:
Paxton, Kara; Bostick, Britin
Subject,
Re: Resolution to honor trailblazers
Looks great. I approve also. Thank you for preparing this for us.
Sonia Harvey
Fayetteville City Council Member
Ward 1, Position 1
(479)409-5064
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From: Williams, Kit <kwilliams@fayetteville-ar.gov>
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2023 1:47:43 PM
TO: 'D'Andre Jones' <dre91732000@gmail.com>; Harvey, Sonia <sonia.harvey@fayetteville-ar.gov>
Cc: Paxton, Kara <kapaxton@fayetteville-ar.gov>; Bostick, Britin <bbostick@Fayetteville-ar.gov>
Subject: RE: Resolution to honor trailblazers
D'Andre and Sonia,
Thanks you for your request for a City Council resolution to honor these four worthy persons. Attached is my
draft Resolution for your review and consideration. Please let me know if any changes are needed. If not, please email
back your approval so we can get this on the February 21- agenda.
Kit
From: D'Andre Jones <dre91732000@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2023 11:20 AM
To: Bostick, Britin <bbostick@fayetteville-ar.gov>; Paxton, Kara <kapaxton@fayetteville-ar.gov>; Williams, Kit
<kwill iams@fayetteville-a r.gov>
Subject: Fwd: Resolution to honor trailblazers
- - -•.. ""' =i "'i VF15111meu aom ouzsiae or the City of Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the content is safe.
The City of Fayetteville's Black Heritage Preservation Commission is proud to recognize the
following trailblazers who made history and contributed to our community's progress toward
representation, inclusion, and diversity. The Commission is grateful for their contributions to
our city and looks forward to honoring them in our work in the years to come as well as