Honoring the Life and Legacy of E. Steven Collins.

WHEREAS, On Monday, September 9, 2013, E. Steven Collins departed this life at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia surrounded by his family and close friends; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins, or E. as he was affectionately called, was a native of the City of Philadelphia, attended West Catholic High School and graduated from Temple University in 1976 with a degree in Radio, Television and Film; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, E. Steven Collins started his radio career as a college student at WRTI at Temple University; and

WHEREAS, As a Professional Broadcaster and Urban Marketing Expert, E. Steven Collins represented WDAS, WUSL and Clear Channel Radio, Inc. nationally for more than twenty one years and created and hosted public affairs programming; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins was part of the team that created Unity Day and produced the festival that offered a wide variety of activities for all demographic groups which attracted millions of spectators to Philadelphia's historic Benjamin Franklin Parkway; and

WHEREAS, For more than ten years, “E. Steven Collins was a valued member of the Radio One family” serving as the Director of Urban Marketing and External Relations and “brought together the corporate, civic, clergy and overall community for a positive good”. He represented WRNB, WPPZ, WPHI and Radio One, Inc. nationally and increased Radio One, Inc. brand awareness in the Delaware Valley region via events, outreach and direct marketing and hosted “Philly Speaks on Old School 100.3” with E. Steven Collins; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins produced the annual African American Greek Picnic in Philadelphia, Virginia Beach, Virginia and on Long Island, New York. For the twelve years he produced the events, they were the largest summer gathering of African American College and Graduate school students in the nation; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, E. Steven Collins was a key organizer of the ground breaking 2003 Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) Mayoral Debate, which he co-produced, and was awarded an Emmy for best in category and he produced Philadelphia's 2008 Presidential Election Night Live Coverage for national and local radio and broadcasts; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins was featured throughout a variety of national media outlets including during the 2008 Presidential Election, including MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Middays and MSNBC Weekends, CNN Midday, CNN American Morning with John Roberts, CNN Weekend and PBS News Hour; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins was a community connector and made everyone feel important no matter their stature or class; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins served as chair of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy and served on many boards including Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Multi Cultural Affairs Congress, Concerned Black Men of Philadelphia, National Association for Multi Ethnicity in Communications, the UNCF Philadelphia Mayor's Mask Ball Committee, the African American Museum Annual Gala Committee, the Urban League of Philadelphia, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, the Ivy Legacy Foundation and the Mayor's Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity;

and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins' name, face and voice were synonymous with professional broadcasting, marketing, sales, public speaking and opinion shaping on the local, regional and national level for more than thirty five years; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins was a loving husband to his wife, Lisa Duhart-Collins and father to his two sons, Rashid Collins and Langston Collins; and

WHEREAS, E. Steven Collins passing is a great loss to his family, colleagues, friends, the City of Philadelphia and the nation; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the life and legacy of E. Steven Collins.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to his wife Lisa Duhart-Collins, his sons, Rashid and Langston, and his Radio One, Inc. family as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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