Title
To Recognize and Honor the service and career of Granville S. Waiters
Body
WHEREAS, Granville S. Waiters was born to his Father, Robert Waiters, and Mother Frances Waiters on January 8, 1961. He grew up on the East side of Columbus and quickly stood out in the community due to his great height, skill on the basketball court, and kind soul; and
WHEREAS, During his time on the East High School Men’s Basketball team, Granville Waiters led the team to the 1979 Class AAA state title. He then went on to play as a center for the Ohio State University’s men’s basketball team, averaging 5.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in 104 games as a 4 year player; and
WHEREAS, Granville was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft. Over the course of his NBA career he played for the Indiana Pacers, the Houston Rockets, and the Chicago Bulls until he decided to leave the league to pursue a professional basketball career in Europe in 1988. While in Europe Waiters played two years in the Spanish Basketball Clubs Association for FC Barcelona Basquet and Cajabilbao; and
WHEREAS, Granville invested his time and energy outside of the court to help youth as well as those reentering society following incarceration. He used his popularity as a tool to advocate for the economic empowerment of the disenfranchised, better educational and employment opportunities for the undeserved, equitable healthcare, and hope in communities that felt forgotten; and
WHEREAS, For several years Granville was involved with Metropolitan Community Services T.O.U.C.H, officially joining their board in 2013. MCS T.O.U.C.H. is an agency that serves incarcerated men and women who are soon-to-be released, formerly incarcerated men and women, and other vulnerable adult populations. He also served on the After-School All-Stars board and was a member of HML Ministries; and
WHEREAS, Granville Waiters passed away the morning of March...
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