Title
To honor and recognize Jim Lorimer for his outstanding service on the
After School All Stars Board of Directors, and to the City of Columbus and all of central Ohio.
Body
WHEREAS, after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, graduating law school and becoming a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 1954, Jim Lorimer joined Nationwide Insurance in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, while working for Nationwide, where he would be promoted to Vice President, his responsibilities included acting as liaison with many different state and federal legislative and regulatory agencies and maintaining grassroots programs, one of which was the corporate fitness program which he directed for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, in 1959, Jim Lorimer began his avocational sports promotion activities when he started the Ohio Track Club to promote greater opportunities for women and girls competing in Olympic sports; and
WHEREAS, Jim Lorimer was appointed Chairman of the United States Olympic Committee for Women's Athletics in 1964, and led the program for two Olympic games; and
WHEREAS, Jim Lorimer started promoting bodybuilding and weightlifting in 1967, and in 1970 met his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger at the World Weightlifting Championship and Mr. World Contest in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, over the past four decades Jim Lorimer has helped promote more than 100 world-level competitions in bodybuilding and fitness, including the Arnold Sports Festival that has become the largest multi-sport event in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Jim Lorimer, while serving, assisting and promoting others in so many ways, has also served the citizens of central Ohio as either Vice Mayor or Mayor of the City of Worthington, Ohio for the past 42 years; and
WHEREAS, Jim Lorimer, in keeping with his desire to bring out the best in everyone and to create opportunities for others, especially young people, helped found the After School All Stars program in Columbus, and has faithfully served on the Board of Directors throughout the organization's decade-long history; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby honor and recognize Jim Lorimer for his outstanding service on the After School All Stars Board of Directors, and to the City of Columbus and all of central Ohio.