body
WHEREAS, Eugene Thomas, Jr. was born March 10, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended public school in Pittsburgh, graduating from Manchester School, Conroy Junior High School, and Allegheny High School. He continued his education with classes at Penn State University in 1976, followed by the University of Pittsburgh and Community College of Allegheny County; and,
WHEREAS, Eugene Thomas, Jr. has been in business since 1984 and was the first African American in Pittsburgh to build a convenience store, restaurant, and fueling station, which were located on Columbus Avenue in the Northside of Pittsburgh. He next built Quik-It Chicken convenience store, restaurant, and fueling station on Federal Street at Pennsylvania Avenue. When that property was taken by eminent domain for the Allegheny General medical facility, he built Quik-It Chicken convenience store, restaurant, and fueling station at 820 Pennsylvania Avenue where the “Best Bird in the Burgh” is served today; and,
WHEREAS, Eugene Thomas, Jr. was the first minority entrepreneur to open a restaurant in the mezzanine food court, Pop’s Plaza, in PNC Park, the baseball field; and,
WHEREAS, Eugene Thomas, Jr. supported kids from Northview Heights to Manchester, including his three children, providing both employment and activities such as baseball and basketball teams, Project Move in Oliver High School, programs on PCTV; and,
WHEREAS, Eugene Thomas, Jr., with his mother Patricia Thomas, belonged to, participated in, and supported the programs of New Zion Baptist Church on Buena Vista Street; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare April 4th, 2017 to be “Eugene Thomas, Jr. Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.