Recognizing the Accomplishments of Ollie Johnson, director of Athletics at Community College of Philadelphia since 1991.

WHEREAS, Johnson is retiring as director of Athletics at Community College of Philadelphia, where he has worked for nearly 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Johnson has created an outstanding varsity athletics program that during his tenure has won more than 45 championship titles in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross-country, and tennis; and

WHEREAS, In 2007 alone, the College boasted four state team championships - men's basketball and men's and women's cross-country, and team tennis; and

WHEREAS, Under Johnson's leadership, in addition to athletic excellence, the College's varsity sports participants are encouraged and supported in developing the academic prowess they will need to succeed off the court and playing fields; and

WHEREAS, Community College of Philadelphia' records show that varsity athletes are more likely to complete their education than other students; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Colonials' basketball, baseball, cross-country track, tennis and volleyball teams typically receive academic scholarship offers from four-year colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the College's nine varsity athletic teams, Johnson also is responsible for 25 intramural sports, and a daily roster of recreational activities open to students and College employees, and coordinates outreach programs that target men's health; and

WHEREAS, Johnson, who played 10 years in the National Basketball Association, got his start as a freshman player for the Colonials' Men's basketball team at the College, followed by three seasons as a member of the Temple University Owls; and

WHEREAS, He earned a B.A. in Marketing at Temple University before beginning his NBA career with the Portland Trailblazers; and

WHEREAS, After playing his last two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Johnson remained an advocate for young athletes in Philadelphia's neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Johnson has spoken to students at numerous schools in the Delaware Valley, served as a special guest and instructor for the Sixers Summer Hoops Tour featuring former Sixer and NBA All-Star, World B. Free, and served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics and YMCA; and

WHEREAS, Johnson raised money to develop and run the Ollie Johnson Summer Youth Program at Community College of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Community College of Philadelphia serves its community and beyond by providing students and residents access to convenient and affordable educational opportunities, and is one of the largest institutions of higher education in Philadelphia, serving nearly 39,000 credit and non-credit students each year; and

WHEREAS, Community College of Philadelphia is an open admission, certificate and associate degree-granting institution, which has provided access to higher education for more than 630,000 individuals since 1965, and draws students from a wide range of ages and backgrounds, and seeks to provide a coherent foundation from which they can achieve their goals; and

WHEREAS, Ollie Johnson has been an instrumental part of the College and its mission; now it is therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, To commend Ollie Johnson for his many years of dedicated service to the College, Greater Philadelphia and the hundreds of student athletes whose lives he has touched; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Ollie Johnson and Community College of Philadelphia.

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