Title
To Recognize and Celebrate Elwood Rayford and his Contributions to the Northeast Area Commission and the City of Columbus.
Body
WHERAS, Elwood Rayford has served on the Northeast Area Commission since 2003 and remains a leader in his community as the current Chair of the Commission; and
WHEREAS, Elwood was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi before his parents moved him and his younger brothers to Toledo, OH where he played football and graduated from Libbey High School; and
WHEREAS, Elwood moved to the City of Columbus to attend The Ohio State University to study and to play football under Coach Woody Hayes; and
WHEREAS, Under Coach Hayes, wearing #89, Elwood and the Buckeyes won multiple pairs of gold paints by beating That Team Up North three times and a National Championship in 1961; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Rayford has long been a civic leader in his neighborhood and the City having been involved with the Northeast Area Commission, Columbus Recreation & Parks Advisory Council, CMH Task Force and Advisory Committee, Blueprint Columbus Panel, Milo Grogan Recreation Center, Somerset Civic Association, Child Development Council of Franklin County, and Howard Recreation Center Advisory Council, and Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church among many others; and
WHEREAS, Elwood has been a champion of his community evidenced by the trip he took with several neighbors to Washington, DC to advocate for his Northeast Columbus community. The trip secured funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development which led to the resale of homes, additional streetlights, speed bumps and beautification of the area including twenty acres of land gifted to the City of Columbus now known as Harrison Smith Park; and
WHEREAS, Elwood has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Mrs. Jean Rayford and will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this December 24, 2019 with their two children Tonia Marie and Elwood Jr.; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUN...
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