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To designate the 2900 block of Seminary Avenue in honor of the late Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. (3rd District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., was born on August 20, 1920, in Warren County, Mississippi, and died on June 9, 1995, after residing on Seminary Avenue in the city of Richmond since the 1960’s; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., graduated from Hampton Institute at the top of his class in 1949, with a major in mathematics and a minor in music, in addition to being class president and holding membership in the Reserve Officer Training Corps and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., after graduation from college, was drafted as a reservist into the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict and ultimately obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during his military career; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1954 and a doctorate from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 1970 and pursued a career in education, serving as principal of both John F. Kennedy High School and Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond, and later as the Associate Dean of the School of Education and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Virginia State University, and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of the Council, Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr., was also active in civic and religious affairs, with appointments to various boards, including the Richmond City Planning Commission, the Virginia Housing Authority Board, a retirement commission, a 30th annual Martin Luther King celebration, and Ebenezer Baptist Church, in addition being the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States Secretary of the Army; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize the life of Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. for his contributions to the educational and civic life of the city of Richmond and beyond by designating the 2900 block of Seminary Avenue in his honor; and
WHEREAS, because this designation is honorary only, the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, do not apply to the designation made hereby or to any signs erected pursuant to this ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The 2900 block of Seminary Avenue shall be designated in honor of Dr. Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. as “Arnold R. Henderson, Jr. Way,” pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the portion of the street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the street, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated street blocks. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance, and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the portion of the street in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the street. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the portion of the street designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name of the person set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.