Title
To recognize the Mason-Patton Family on the occasion of their family reunion and to celebrate and reflect on their rich heritage.
Body
WHEREAS, On July 19-22, 2018, descendants of the Mason-Patton Family will gather to reconnect, celebrate, and reflect on their rich heritage at the Embassy Suites at the John Glenn International Airport, Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, The Mason-Patton Family can trace its roots back to Sheffield, Alabama, where Thornton Patton Sr was born in 1830. He married Madge Swift, who was also born in 1830, on December 16, 1895. From this marriage, there were eight children: Thornton Jr, Laura, Sonny, Winnie, Lucinda, Liza, George and James Pillar; and
WHEREAS, These eight children married and produced offspring who continue the strong heritage of their ancestors to strive for civic, academic and social excellence, and
WHEREAS, Members of the Mason-Patton Family are descendants from those people in many countries of West Africa, including Cameroon, Congo, Southern Bantu, Mali and Nigeria and were brought to the plantations of the South against their will. In the 1800s, the family spread from Alabama and Tennessee to other geographic areas including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, and
WHEREAS, Members of the family flourished becoming land owners, developers, scholars, entrepreneurs, doctors and other medical professionals, attorneys, as well as government workers, educators and ministers; and
WHEREAS, During the mid-1900s many descendants of the Mason-Patton Family journeyed to the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States to work in factories, steel mills and foundries where they were able to increase their income and quality of life. Many settled in Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, In 1978 the first family reunion was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, with more than 125 family members. Subsequent reunions have continued every two or three years in numerous cities across the United States (some more than once): Indianapolis, Indiana (3); Chicago, Illinois (3) ; New York, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada (2); Detroit, Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio (2); Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida (2); Atlanta, Georgia; Tunica, Mississippi, and Washington, DC.
WHEREAS, The Mason-Patton Family is committed to passing the great legacy of its ancestors to current and future generations by inspiring and encouraging them to continue carrying the torch of excellence, now therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council recognizes the Mason-Patton Family on the occasion of their family reunion.