Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Ceremonial Street Designation
Honoree: LeRoy Sonny Oliver
Date(s): Saturday, April 9, 2022
Official Street Name(s): Intersection of Clinton Avenue and Murray Street
Ceremonial Intersection Name: "LeRoy Sonny Oliver Way"
Sponsor: Council Member, John Sharpe James
Additional Information:
The event is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 9, 2022.
The family is requesting the sign be placed on the Murray Street side.
body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 6PSF-f, adopted on May 20, 2015, authorizes the designation of an intersection, etc., for honorary and ceremonial purposes; and
WHEREAS, LeRoy Sonny Oliver, was a longtime Newark resident, and became one of Newark's leading African-American business entrepreneurs and the popular owner-operator of the premier catering facility and one-stop event center for the African-American community during the 60's and 70's; and
WHEREAS, LeRoy Sonny Oliver was born in 1922 and attended Newark Public Schools. He graduated from Barringer High School and while in his late teens, he began his highly successful and prolific business career when he introduced the innovative mobile, party on wheels DJ service and earned the title "King of Swing". Always seeking lucrative business opportunities, he "apprenticed" at a full-service dry cleaning and tailoring establishment, where he thoroughly learned the business, before venturing out in the 1950's and establishing his own successful "Sonny's Cleaners", in addition to, owning the barbershop and rental apartments adjacent to the business; and
WHEREAS, prospering on Newark's reputation as a popular night life and entertainment mecca, he opened several bars and restaurants including, "Sonny's Eb...
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