Honoring and congratulating Oliver St. Clair Franklin on his receipt of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Commendation.

WHEREAS, Oliver St. Clair Franklin was born and raised in Baltimore and graduated from Lincoln University in 1966 with a degree in economics; and

WHEREAS, He won a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to Oxford where he earned another undergraduate degree in politics, philosophy and economics in 1969; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Franklin served as Deputy City Representative for Arts and Culture under former Mayor W. Wilson Goode; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Franklin, an East Falls resident, is currently Vice-President of GS Capital Management, an investment firm based in Wayne; and

WHEREAS, He has used this position to strengthen Philadelphia's economic and cultural ties to Britain; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, using his own funds, Mr. Franklin initiated City Fellowships in Financial Services which gives minority business people the opportunity to spend a year in Britain working in financial institutions. To date, the program has granted $6 million in fellowships; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Franklin was named Britain's first honorary consul in Philadelphia three years ago -- becoming the first ever African-American to be an honorary consul; and

WHEREAS, Based on his service and innovations, on January 17, 2002 Mr. Franklin received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire commendation for exceptional achievement; and

WHEREAS, Orders of chivalry such as the Order of the British Empire contain numerous levels and titles of membership which have been conferred by the monarchy for over 1000 years, though few African-Americans have received this designation; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and congratulate Oliver St. Clair Franklin on his receipt of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire commendation.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Oliver St. Clair Franklin as a symbol of this legislative body's congratulations for this most distinguished achievement.

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