Presenter
Presented by Mr. Motznik
Title
Renaming Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Golf Course to the Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park, effective September 29th, 2007.
Body
Whereas, on December 9th 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Robert E. O'Connor, was born to Robert and Mary Anne Deaver O'Connor; and,
Whereas, in 1964, Robert E. O'Connor married Judy Levine and they were blessed with three children, Terrance, Heidy, and Corey, and,
Whereas, Robert E. O'Connor, in November of 1991 was first elected as a Member of City Council, representing the 5th Council District. He served with distinction and in January of 1998, was elected as President of Council; and,
Whereas, Robert E. O'Connor, in 2003, was chosen by Governor Edward Rendell to be his Director of the Governor's Office for Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he again served with distinction, building cooperative and productive relationships throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania benefiting the people of Pittsburgh, the Southwestern Pennsylvania region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and,
Whereas, on January 3, 2006, Robert E. O' Connor was inaugurated as the 58th Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh and upon taking his oath of office infused the people of the city with a new sense of hope and optimism in the aftermath of the city's financial crisis and began a process of rebuilding the city's budget and reorganizing its government to be more responsive to the needs of the people. His drive, his positive outlook and his ability to make each person he met feel valued and appreciated allowed the people of Pittsburgh to have hope for a better day for their city and themselves; and,
Whereas, Robert E. O'Connor, during his political life, developed a love for the game of golf and was frequently seen playing at the Schenley Park Golf Course with his son, Corey, and in do doing, he saw golf as a way to provide a positive life experience for young people. He was a founding member of The First Tee of Pittsburgh which is dedicated to influencing the lives of young people through teaching golf and the life lessons it imparts and as a platform for teaching kids valuable life skills that help them in all segments of their lives. The core values that The
First Tee instills in young people are: responsibility, sportsmanship, perseverance, confidence, judgment, honesty, respect, courtesy and integrity; and,
Whereas, only seven months into his term, Mayor Robert E. O'Connor was stricken with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma and on September 1st, 2006, he left this world for a better place, but his legacy remains as a testament to his good works, his kindness, and his love for his family, his city and the people of Pittsburgh he cared so deeply about; and
Whereas, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, in recognition of Mayor Bob O'Connor's distinguished career, his love for his city and his lifelong passion for bringing out the best in everyone he met, does find it fitting and proper to provide for a lasting tribute to his many accomplishments and love of the people of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
Whereas, in memory of our dearly beloved and respected 58th Mayor, Robert E, O'Connor, whose time with us was far too short, the Council does hereby rename the Schenley Park Golf Course in honor of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor.
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and the Director of Public Works and/or Director of Parks & Recreation are hereby authorized to rename the Schenley Park Golf Course to THE BOB O'CONNOR GOLF COURSE AT SCHENLEY PARK, to become effective September 29, 2007, and are further authorized to expend such sums of money necessary to produce and provide the appropriate signage for a dedication ceremony to be held on September 29, 2007.