Jacksonville, FL (March 22, 2016) District 11 Council Member Danny Becton introduced Resolution 2016-223 honoring a community activist and resident John Waddell, upon his passing and City Council unanimously passed.
Introduced by Council Member Becton & Co-sponsored by Council Members Carter & Gulliford:
RESOLUTION 2016-223-A
A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE PASSING AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JOHN WADDELL; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Jacksonville is exceedingly fortunate in having in neighborhoods throughout the City citizens whose commitment and dedication as civic leaders make vital, lasting contributions that improve the quality of life in our city; and
WHEREAS, John Waddell epitomized civic responsibility; after a 32 year career in the United States Air Force, he and his wife of 52 years, Gloria, relocated to Jacksonville; and
WHEREAS, John Waddell was a patriot, serving his country in tours of duty in Vietnam, Panama, Turkey, Columbia and Peru. He devoted countless hours and days to the betterment of neighborhoods and the City as a whole and had many friends who admired his focus on making Jacksonville an even better place to live, work, and raise a family; and
WHEREAS, a Southside resident, Mr. Waddell twice served as the president of the Royal Lakes Homeowners Association and subsequently served as president of the East Hampton Homeowners Association for two terms. He was a person who genuinely cared about children, if he saw that new subdivisions lacked playgrounds, Mr. Waddell sought out developers and elected officials to address that issue. For five years, John Waddell served as an Equal Opportunity Specialist for the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission; and
WHEREAS, John Waddell was a devoted member of the Southeast Citizens Planning Advisory Committee who relished serving as co-chair of the CPAC’s Education Committee and, as he became ill, it distressed him to have had to miss CPAC meetings; and
WHEREAS, John Waddell had many friends in the community who admired his tenacity in getting things done and as a final memorable expression of his concern for a lack of basketball facilities that existed within the Baymeadows area, John got the full attention of then-Council Member Bill Gulliford, District 13 and current Council Member Danny Becton, District 11 to plan, fund and to have constructed within the Baymeadows 9A Regional Park, the facilities that John envisioned and so desired. It is in his memory that the community wish to dedicate the “Waddell Courts.” He will be sorely missed; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section 1. The City Council does hereby mourn the passing and celebrate the life of John Waddell, and extend its condolences to his family and many friends and admirers.
Section 2. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor’s signature.
Form Approved:
/s/ Margaret M. Sidman
Office of General Counsel
Legislation Prepared By: John J. Jackson, Council Research Division