Title
To honor and celebrate Bill Dawson and to thank him for his legacy of leadership and his 30 years of committed service to the Franklin Park Conservatory and the residents of Columbus and Central Ohio.
Body
WHEREAS, Bill Dawson has been a fixture with the Franklin Park Conservatory since January of 1992, some 30 years ago; he has humbly served with distinction and worked in a number of roles including as the Landscape Supervisor for AmeriFlora '92 which was an international horticultural exhibition held in Columbus in 1992, the Horticulture Director, and most recently as the Manager of the Growing to Green Program for the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens which includes a 28 acre Botanical Garden and 60 acres of public parkland; and
WHEREAS, under Bill’s leadership, the Growing to Green program in Columbus evolved into the largest organized effort to promote and provide free community resources for community gardening and city beautification - first Initiated in March of 2000 the Growing to Green program has assisted in the start-up or renovation of more than 300 community gardens throughout Central Ohio - the program assists individuals and groups interested in starting a community garden, a neighborhood beautification project, or a school learning garden; and
WHEREAS, Bill also played a significant role in the creation and implementation of the annual Growing to Green Awards which honors the dedication and hard work taking place within many of the communities around Central Ohio - Bill has a special appreciation for people and as a leader he has established a reputation for promoting the on-going participation in city beautification and community gardening which is achieved by recognizing our communities greatest asset - our people; and
WHEREAS, Maya Angelou once said, ‘At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel’ - Bill Dawson is the living illustration of this quote - yes there are some who will remember Bill’s uncompromising standard of excellence and the beauty of the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and others who will cite his list of achievements - however we believe that the people of Columbus and Central Ohio will most remember Bill for the gracious way that he carried himself and the joy that he inspired in everyone that was touched by him; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and celebrate Bill Dawson and thank him for his legacy of leadership and his 30 years of committed service to the Franklin Park Conservatory and the residents of Columbus and Central Ohio.