Bill Text: GA HR160 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: McKinney, Mr. James Edward "Billy"; condolences
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6)
Status: (Passed) 2011-02-07 - House Read and Adopted [HR160 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-HR160-Introduced.html
11 LC
94 3822
House
Resolution 160
By:
Representatives Brooks of the
63rd,
Smyre of the
132nd,
Lucas of the
139th,
Randall of the
138th,
Jones of the
44th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Celebrating
the life and work of Mr. James Edward "Billy" McKinney; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Mr. James Edward "Billy" McKinney was born to the late Ann Lewis in Atlanta,
Georgia, and he was raised by his loving grandmother, Annie Bell Dixon;
and
WHEREAS,
Mr. McKinney joined the United States Army in 1945, and upon his return to
Georgia from the European war theatre, while still wearing his United States
Army uniform, he was arrested for drinking from the "White Only" water fountain;
and
WHEREAS,
he grew up to become a socially and politically conscious young man; always
fighting for justice and equality and this mind-set led him to join the Atlanta
Police Department in 1947; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. McKinney was one of the first black policemen in the City of Atlanta and he
often reflected on walking the streets of Atlanta being allowed to police only
"colored" folk, since black policemen were not allowed to arrest white people;
and
WHEREAS,
in order to point out this injustice he formed a one-man protest, picketing the
Atlanta Police Department headquarters on his off days, often in his police
uniform, and much to the ire of his fellow officers; and
WHEREAS,
in his younger days, Mr. McKinney was an avid tennis player and also spent a lot
of time reading and researching, turning himself into a "walking encyclopedia;"
and his unique view of the world sometimes found him at odds with so-called
conventional wisdom, but he was true to his principles, regardless;
and
WHEREAS,
it was on his Grady Hospital police beat that he met his loving wife of 56
years, Leola Christior McKinney and to this union, was born a daughter, Cynthia
Ann McKinney; Mr. McKinney also had 2 sons, Gregory and James, from a previous
marriage; and
WHEREAS,
he made a conscious decision that picketing from the outside was not as
effective as being on the inside as a part of the law-making body, helping to
make laws that made sense, and in 1970, was elected to the Georgia State
Legislature after the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act mandated election
law changes in the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
in 1989, his daughter was also elected to the State Legislature and he and
Cynthia served as the first father-daughter team of lawmakers in Georgia's
history; and
WHEREAS,
Mr. McKinney served as an elected official in the state where he was born and
raised for more than 30 years and in tribute to his service, a stretch of
Interstate 285, from 1-20 to the Cobb County line, is named in his honor;
and
WHEREAS,
he was one of the forgotten Civil Rights advocates and activists and his
political prowess was recognized across the nation and the world, and his advice
and counsel were sought from elected officials and candidates for elected office
near and far.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in honoring the life and memory of Mr. James Edward "Billy"
McKinney and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his
passing.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Mr. James Edward "Billy" McKinney.
