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To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of former Columbus City Council President Jerry Hammond and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing Wednesday, August 25, 2010.
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WHEREAS, Jerry Hammond was born Charles G. Hammond on May 29, 1934 in South Bend, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond began his career in the 1960's, starting as a Supervisor of Cottage Life at the Training Institute of Central Ohio, a Neighborhood Youth Counselor for the City of Columbus, the Manpower Coordinator for the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Program, the Executive Director of Plans for Progress with the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and an Employee Relations Specialist for Columbus Southern Power; and
WHEREAS, in the 1970's, Mr. Hammond served as the Bureau Chief for the Ohio Department of Economic and Community Development, and then returned Columbus Southern (American Electric Power) as Director of Civic Affairs and later as Executive Assistant to the President for eight years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond joined Columbus City Council on June 11, 1974, became the first African American Council President on January 2, 1984, and remained President until he resigned in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond's many accomplishments at City Council include the creation of the Council's Legislative Research Office, the Neighborhood Commissions, the Cable Television Task Force, the Metropolitan Human Service Commission, and the Community Shelter Board; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond was a passionate and dedicated visionary who helped build stronger neighborhoods and economic growth through the creation of the Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization program, the small business loan program that led to economic development in the Short North and other areas of the city; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond worked diligently to deliver crucial social services to Columbus residents, serving as a leader on com...
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