Council, Mayor Thank Councilman Johnson for Dedicated Service

Oct 28th, 2009

Council President Reggie Copeland, Mayor Sam Jones, current and former City Council members praised the accomplishments of Clinton Johnson at his final council meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

President Copeland read a resolution that was unanimously approved by the council, which listed many of Councilman Johnson’s accomplishments (the entire text can be read below). Mr. Johnson was an original council member from when city government took the Mayor-Council form in 1985.

We wish Mr. Johnson the very best in all his future endeavors.

R E S O L U T I O N

Sponsored by: Mayor Jones & the Mobile City Council

Whereas, Clinton L. Johnson will be leaving his office as City Councilmember for Council District 3 on October 30 after 24 years of service to the citizens of Mobile; and

Whereas, Clinton L. Johnson was born the youngest of seven children on March 16, 1947. Councilman Johnson grew up in Mobile and was educated in the Mobile County Public School System. He has been married to the former Barbara Gibson for the past 37 years and is the father of three daughters (Erica, Ginnessa, and Ashley) and one son ("C.J."); and

Whereas, Councilman Johnson graduated from Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Sociology and pursued an additional Bachelor of Arts in Religion from The University of Mobile. He also received a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Alabama and was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Theology from the Alabama Non-Denominational Theological Seminary; and

Whereas, Councilman Johnson retired as a Rehabilitation Supervisor and Coordinator of Facility Services for the State of Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation Service after 26 years of service. In addition, Councilman Johnson has been a pastor for over 30 years. He previously served as pastor of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Citronelle for eight years and remains pastor of the New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Mobile for the past 21 years; and

Whereas, In 1985, when Mobile's city government was changed from a commission form to its present Mayor-Council form, Councilman Johnson was one of the first African- Americans to serve. For eight years he served as Vice President and for the following eight years he served as President of the Council. He recently served as Chairman of the Public Service Committee and of the Community Development Block Grant Committee; and

Whereas, Councilman Johnson has had numerous accomplishments during his tenure. One of his biggest accomplishments has been the construction of the Clinton L. Johnson Center for Economic Development. Through the work of this facility, hundreds of young people have had their lives turned around through the attainment of their GED, computer skills and significant upgrades in job readiness and job placement opportunities. He also helped to lead the change in Downtown redevelopment and has been credited with coining the phrase “Mobile…..a city of perpetual potential;”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE MOBILE CITY COUNCIL that we do hereby honor the tremendous impact and celebrate the exceptional leadership that

CLINTON L. JOHNSON

has displayed over the past two-and-a-half decades and thank him for helping to guide his beloved city into one of its most prosperous eras in our 300 year history.