Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Ceremonial Street Designation
Honoree: John Arthur Thomas
Date(s): Saturday, October 10, 2020
Official Street Name(s): Intersection of Summit Street and Sussex Avenue
Ceremonial Intersection Name: John Arthur Thomas Way
Sponsor: Council President, Mildred C. Crump
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, Ordinance 6PDF-e, adopted on May 20, 2015, authorizes the designation of an intersection, etc. for honorary and ceremonial purposes; and
WHEREAS, John Arthur Thomas, noted Newark educator and co-founder of the famed Newark’s Crispus Attucks Day Parade, the first Statewide parade celebrating the accomplishments of African-Americans, and the genesis of not only present day African-American parade celebrations, but also other ethnicities celebrating their respective cultural heritage and contributions to America’s history and founding; and
WHEREAS, John Arthur Thomas, who was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, was a renowned educator and beloved history teacher at Newark’s Central High School, whose passion and commitment to educating his students on the unmasking of African and African-American contributions and influence on world history showed no bounds; and
WHEREAS, he was a proud member of “America’s Greatest Generation”, serving in the Pacific Theater for the United States Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. Shortly thereafter, he went on to earn several degrees in education, including Bachelor and Master Degrees from Rutgers University and graduate credits from the prestigious Columbia University. He began his illustrious teaching career with the Newark Board of Education in 1952 and later taught at Rutgers University School of Education and the Rutgers University African-American Studies Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council hereby authorizes the honorary and ceremonial renaming of the intersection of Summit Street and Sussex Avenue as “John Arthur Thomas Way”.
2. The official name of the said streets shall remain Summit Street and Sussex Avenue in their entirety.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the renaming of the intersection of Summit Street and Sussex Avenue as “John Arthur Thomas Way” for honorary and ceremonial purposes.