TITLE
Title
RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. JOHN M. KILIMANJARO, SR.
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Commissioner Melvin "Skip" Alston
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RESOLUTION
Resolution
HONORING THE LIFE OF
DR. JOHN MARSHALL KILIMANJARO (NÉ STEVENSON), SR.
WHEREAS, on Wednesday, NC, Dr. John Marshall Kilimanjaro, Sr. departed from this life at the age of 88. Known as an engaged civil rights and community activist, Dr. Kilimanjaro, Sr. is also remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, educator, civil rights activist and as the trailblazing founder and publisher of The Carolina Peacemaker newspaper; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kilimanjaro, Sr. received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), his Master of Arts and Doctoral degrees in Speech, Theatre Arts and English Literature from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kilimanjaro, Sr. proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy during The Korean War. Following an honorable discharge from service, he joined the faculty of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in the Department of English, where he established its Speech & Theatre Arts Department and founded The Paul Robeson Theatre; and
WHEREAS, during his 22-year tenure of service to NC A&T State University, Dr. Kilimanjaro, Sr. sought to correct social and economic injustices faced by African-Americans through his lectures on social conscience, participation in various protests and marches throughout the country, as well as, his membership in the Greensboro chapter of the NAACP; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kilimanjaro’s passion for community activism and dedication to knowledge led him, in collaboration with his wife, Vickie, to create The Carolina Peacemaker, a weekly publication that highlights stories and events of interest to multicultural communities within Guilford County. Under his leadership, the Peacemaker garnered numerous journalism awards from the NC Press Association and the National Newspaper Publishers Association; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kilimanjaro has received the following honors in recognition of his significant accomplishments: The O’Henry Award for Artistic Creativity (1972), Governor’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine (2002), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Founder’s Day Award (2005) and The Samuel E. Cornish Publisher of the Year (2006); and
WHEREAS, Dr. Kilimanjaro was predeceased by his daughter, Karen, and is survived by his wife, their four children (John Jr., Sybil, Heidi and Afrique) and their eight grandchildren, in whom he instilled his commitment to educational excellence and passion for equality.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners that it hereby expresses its appreciation and admiration for the accomplishments of Dr. John Marshall Kilimanjaro (né Stevenson), Sr., and his contributions to the Guilford County community, and extends its deepest condolences to the Kilimanjaro family.
ADOPTED this 18th day of April, 2019
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt the Resolution honoring the life of Dr. John M. Kilimanjaro, Sr.