WHEREAS, On Wednesday, December 2, 2020, the City of Philadelphia lost a wonderful friend with the all too soon passing of Joey Temple at the age of 68; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Temple was a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. His career in radio began when he received an opportunity to volunteer with Mattie Humphrey at WDAS. During his internship, he participated in the Breakfast Show, and provided knowledge to the community about mass incarceration. After the completion of his internship, Temple stayed at WDAS to work with the legendary Georgie Woods; and
WHEREAS, Thereafter, Mr. Temple was a long-time, highly popular radio personality at WURD Radio, where he produced a weekly show, “Message in the Music”, blending his musical expertise with a deep appreciation for African-American history and culture; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Temple spent his time outside of the radio station as a community activist on behalf of North Philadelphia, working tirelessly to steer youth in the right direction; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Temple was also involved in the sports community, serving as a public address announcer in the Sonny Hill League; and
WHEREAS, In a moving tribute video posted by WURD Radio upon Mr. Temple’s passing, Mr. Temple explained his commitment to service in his own words: “I fight for the people suffering through mental health conditions, and I also fight for the young brothers on the corner because a lot of times, people don’t understand the young people on the corner”; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Temple was beloved by all who knew him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we mourn the death of our friend Joey Temple and celebrate his unforgettable life and legacy.
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