SPONSORS: MAYOR PRO TEM AL TILLMAN COMMISSIONER LARRY SCHLESINGER COMMISSIONER ELAINE LUCAS

A RESOLUTION OF THE MACON-BIBB COUNTY COMMISSION TO RENAME THE MACON CITY AUDITORIUM AS THE “C. JACK ELLIS CITY AUDITORIUM” IN HONOR OF C. JACK ELLIS’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COMMUNITY; AND FOR OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES.

Purpose: To rename the Macon City Auditorium as the “C. Jack Ellis City Auditorium.”

WHEREAS, in accordance with the procedural requirements of Macon-Bibb County’s policy for naming Macon-Bibb County owned parks, facilities, and streets, a request to name the Macon City Auditorium, located at 415 First Street, Macon, 31201, in honor of C. Jack Ellis has been presented by those Commissioners named as sponsors hereon; and WHEREAS, this request has been submitted so as to honor C. Jack Ellis, who served as the fortieth mayor of the City of Macon, and the first and only African-American mayor of the City of Macon, for two terms, from 1999 to 2007; and WHEREAS, as mayor, C. Jack Ellis celebrated many enduring achievements, including: • Providing approximately $1 Million in disadvantaged business loans • Improving public and affordable housing in Macon • Earning the City of Excellence designation for Macon from the Georgia Municipal Association, as well as numerous other notable awards and designations • Purchasing and revitalizing the Terminal Station • Providing for the construction of the Marriott Convention Center and Hotel • Establishing the College Hill Corridor • Establishing the Macon Dog Park • Establishing the C. Jack Ellis Youth Foundation • Established programs to increase minority participation in government contracting, increase access to technology throughout the community, and reduce crime ; and WHEREAS, C. Jack Ellis has distinguished himself further in a number of notable ways, including serving twenty years in the United States Army, as well as in combat during the Vietnam War; serving as Honorary Consul to the nation of Uganda and to the Town of Elmina, Ghana; serving as Vice President of the World Conference of Mayors for Tourism and Investment, and more, as detailed further in the biography attached hereto at Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by reference; and WHEREAS, in addition to all of his professional achievements, C. Jack Ellis is a proud father of five children, grandfather of ten grandchildren, and great-grandfather of one great- grandchild; and

K:\RES MACON-BIBB\2020 Tillman Naming City Auditorium for C. Jack Ellis 11-5-20.docx WHEREAS, the Macon City Auditorium is a historic landmark located at the intersection of Cherry Street and First Street in Macon-Bibb County, and WHEREAS, the Macon City Auditorium was built in 1925 by architect Egerton Swartwout, and features the largest copper dome in the world; and WHEREAS, since its construction, the Macon City Auditorium has hosted world-famous musicians, including James Brown, Otis Redding, and the Allman Brothers Band, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Little Richard Penniman, Gladys Knight, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Jason Isbell, as well as television shows such as the Oprah Winfrey Show and American Idol, and is both a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as in the global music industry; and WHEREAS, County policy would normally prohibit the naming of a County facility after a living person, but the Mayor and Commission have determined that an exception should be made in this instance due to the outstanding work and contribution to the County and to the community by C. Jack Ellis; and WHEREAS, County policy would normally require the completion of a criminal background check prior to naming a facility after a person, but the Mayor and Commission have determined that an exception should be made in this instance because of the profound contributions that C. Jack Ellis has made to the City of Macon and Macon-Bibb County over the course of many decades of service; and WHEREAS, the Macon-Bibb County Commission finds that this resolution is necessary and proper to promote or protect the safety, health, peace, security, and general welfare of Macon- Bibb County and its inhabitants; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Macon-Bibb County Commission, and it is hereby so resolved by the authority of the same that the Macon City Auditorium shall hereby and henceforth be named the “C. Jack Ellis City Auditorium,” and that appropriate signage should be installed designating the facilities as such; and further that a suitable plaque, photograph, or other display honoring the achievements of C. Jack Ellis and his contributions to the community should be installed at a prominent location upon said property. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Commission herby declares that the foregoing preamble and whereas provisions set forth hereinabove constitute, and shall be considered to be, substantive provisions of this Resolution and are hereby incorporated by reference into this provision. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event scrivener’s errors shall be discovered in this Resolution or in the Exhibits hereto after the adoption hereof, the Commission hereby authorizes and directs that each such scrivener’s error shall be corrected in all multiple counterparts of this resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Commission grants the Mayor the authority to take any and all further actions necessary to carry out the intents and purposes of this Resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that except as specifically provided herein, any and all ordinances or resolution or parts of ordinances or resolutions in conflict with this Resolution shall

K:\RES MACON-BIBB\2020 Tillman Naming City Auditorium for C. Jack Ellis 11-5-20.docx be and the same hereby are repealed, and this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ______, 2020.

By: ______ROBERT A.B. REICHERT, Mayor

Attest: ______(SEAL) JANICE S. ROSS, Clerk of Commission

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EXHIBIT A