Official Minutes
BOARD OF HONOR
Meeting
October 25, 2006
Members Present: Mr. Bob Hydrick, Mr. John Wells, Mr. Billy Watson and Superior
Court Judge Bobby Peters (via conference call).
Members Absent: Judge Clay Land, Mr. Jack Land and Mr. Milton Hirsch.
Guest: Marshal Greg Countryman and Deputy Chief Marshal Willie King.
Mailouts: Initial request from Marshal Greg Countryman to name the conference
room in the Marshal?s Office after the late Mr. Larry Davenport as submitted by
Mayor Poydasheff.
Request: Request submitted by MSG (Ret) Joseph Watson and called by Councilor
Suber to name the Vietnam Memorial Park area the ?Lonnie Jackson Park? in honor
of the late Mr. Lonnie Jackson.
Acting Chairman Mr. Bob Hydrick called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. in the
Mayor?s Conference Room, 6th Floor, Government Center. There was a quorum
present for the meeting.
Naming of the conference room in the Marshal?s Office after the late Mr. Larry
Davenport:
Marshal Greg Countryman was present to briefly explain the reason for the
request. He pointed out that the late Mr. Larry Davenport suffered a massive
heart attack in his driveway as he prepared to come to work. Marshal
Countryman added that he was instrumental in the department and played a key
role in office management. In response to a question of Mr. Wells, Marshal
Countryman explained that Mr. Davenport had been with the department
approximately two years and six months.
Marshal Countryman and Deputy Chief Marshal King responded to several questions
from the board members and made comments to support the request. Marshal
Countryman made a final comment that we have named a $500 scholarship that we
give each year in honor of Mr. Davenport, which is the Larry Davenport
Leadership Award. The board members then asked that Marshal Countryman and
Deputy Chief Marshal King excuse themselves from the meeting to allow the
members an opportunity to deliberate on the request.
Several board members spoke of the short period of time that the late Mr.
Davenport had been working with the City. Mr. Watson expressed concerns with
setting a precedent with naming rooms in the Government Center after
individuals. At this time, Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters was on conference
call and Mr. Wells recapped the comments made to the board members by Marshal
Countryman. Superior Court Judge Peters concurred with the comments of the
board that we should not be recommending that rooms be named after
individuals. Deputy Clerk of Council Davis recalled that the Jury Room is
named after the late Ms. Browder. Several members spoke of her long time
service with the City. (See below the final recommendation on this matter.)
Renaming the Vietnam Memorial Park after the late Mr. Lonnie Jackson:
Deputy Clerk of Council Davis advised that this information was not a part of
the material that was mailed to the members. She pointed out that a request
had been made in 2005 to name the Vietnam Memorial Park in honor of Mr. Lonnie
Jackson, who was ill at the time and has since passed away.
Mr. Wells asked who was instrumental in having this park erected, at which
time; several members indicated that they believe that Mr. Jackson was one of
the main reasons the park came to fruition. Mr. Wells spoke of the
contributions of Mr. Jackson to the school system; in particular, the tutorial
program that he had organized every summer and worked with hundreds of
children. He said that he would concur with the request.
There was suggestions from the members regarding the official name of the park,
after which time, the members decided that they would approve the request and
allow the City to make the final determination regarding the official name.
Mr. John Wells then moved approval of the request. Seconded by Mr. Hydrick and
carried unanimously by those four members present for the meeting.
Naming of the conference room in the Marshal?s Office after the late Mr. Larry
Davenport:
Regarding the request to name the conference room in the Marshal?s Office after
the late Mr. Davenport, Mr. Hydrick recalled that they have already named a
scholarship after Mr. Davenport. Mr. Watson said that the board has decided to
not recommend the naming of the conference room in the Marshal?s Office in
honor of the late Mr. Larry Davenport due to the short period of time that he
was employed with the City. Mr. Hydrick added that the board members are
concerned with setting a precedent in naming rooms. In reference to the Jury
Room being named after the late Ms. Browder, Mr. Watson pointed out that she
played a key role in establishing the jury pool and getting the room provided
for the jurors; therefore, it was not just her long-term tenure with the city,
it was also her accomplishments.
There being no other business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
________________________
Sandra T. Davis
Deputy Clerk of Council
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