Honoring and Congratulating State Representative Frank Louis Oliver on the Occasion of his Retirement from the Pennsylvania General Assembly after Thirty-Six Years of Dedicated Service.

WHEREAS, Frank Louis Oliver was born and raised in Philadelphia attending Dobbins Vocational High School and later working in the City as an Auditing Clerk and Deputy Sheriff; and

WHEREAS, He succeeded Francis Lynch as State Representative in the 195th District by virtue of winning in a special election in 1973; and

WHEREAS, He has served continuously in that seat since that time and is credited with being a founding member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus; and

WHEREAS, He has served as Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, the Children and Youth Committee and the State Government Committee; and

WHEREAS, Representative Oliver has sponsored or co-sponsored some of the most thoughtful and compassionate legislation of our time including: the in-door smoking ban and laws allowing mothers convicted on drug-related offenses to nevertheless receive welfare, cash assistance and food stamps; and

WHEREAS, He forcefully supported Fresh Food Financing Initiatives that encourage super-market development in urban areas; and

WHEREAS, He has served as a Ward Leader for the 29th Ward in the City of Philadelphia and is Secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee in Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, After more than thirty-six years of service, Representative Oliver is scheduled to retire at the conclusion of his current term in November 2010; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of this City and state have enjoyed a better quality of life because of his committed service and owe to him a tremendous debt of gratitude; now therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, That the Philadelphia City Council hereby Honors and Congratulates Representative Frank Louis Oliver on the Occasion of his Retirement from the Pennsylvania General Assembly after Thirty-Six Years of Service.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented as a Sincere Expression of this Council's Gratitude and Appreciation for his Dedicated Service.

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