2028 RESOLUTION NO. 2028
WHEREAS , our hearts were saddened by the unexpected passing
from the earthly scene of H. C . "Sport" Graham, City Clerk and
Finance Officer of Little Rock from 1934 to October 17, 1954; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Fred W. Parris , Acting Mayor of
the City of Little Rock, appointed a Committee composed of Aldermen
James A. Griffey, William C. Hood, Jr. , and Franklin E. Loy and
charged them with the honor of preparing a proper resolution on the
passing of "Sport" Graham; and
WHEREAS , the Committee took the position that an ordinary
resolution pointing out the many accomplishments in the public life
of "Sport" would not be sufficient to express the affection and
comradeship which was mutually shared by "Sport" and those citizens
with whom he toiled in the operation of the City Government; and
WHEREAS, the Committee felt that any words selected for
a resolution commending the public life of "Sport" Graham could not
excell the expressions of the editorial writers of the two Little
Rock newspapers , the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette; and
WHEREAS, we feel that the writers of the two editorials
on the public life of "Sport" Graham graphically reflected the
feeling of all the Citizens of Little Rock; and
WHEREAS , the Committee, with the sanction and approval of
the Acting Mayor and Members of the Little Rock City Council,
endorsed a movement by the friends of "Sport" Graham to accept small
contributions for the payment of a Bronze Plaque containing the
likeness of "Sport" Graham, the reproduction of the two editorials
appearing in the Arkansas Democrat and the Arkansas Gazette, the
title of his office, and his tenure of public service, dates of his
birth and demise , and a quotation from the "Municipal Finance" which
was used by "Sport" on the last page of his printed annual report
furnished each member of the Little Rock City Council and which was
mailed to financial institutions and business men, both locally and
throughout the United States ; and
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WHEREAS, we feel that this quotation from "Municipal
Finance" not only was selected by "Sport" to end his last report to
this Council, but we suggest that this quotation properly summed up
"Sport' s" philosophy of local government in a democracy; and
WHEREAS , The Committee has selected this quotation to
end its resolution on the public life of H. C. "Sport" Graham:
It is an honor as well as a grave responsibility to be
a part of City Government. If democracy cannot be made
to work at the City level, then democracy will be sup-
planted by some other form of Government";
and
WHEREAS , The Committee has requested Mr. K. A. Engel,
Publisher of the Arkansas Democrat and Mr. Harry Ashmore , Executive
Editor of the Arkansas Gazette to represent the citizens of Little
Rock and hang the Plaque in its permanent position on the west wall
of the foyer in the City Clerk and Finance Officer' s office;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, On the 6th day of December,
A. D. , 1954, the committee respectfully requests that the City Council
of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas , accept the Bronze Plaque from
the people who knew and respected H. C . "Sport" Graham; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , That said Plaque shall be placed.
in a conspicous place in the Office of the City Clerk and Finance
Officer of the City of Little Rock, where said Plaque shall be dis -
played for all time;
SIGNED: ',,i..c.. ,' 4'
Ord/3 / • /
ames A . r' fey // //
•illiam , . Hood, •
r:nkl E. 4-7-'-~1
ADOPTED: December 6, 1954
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Acting Mayor