SUBSTITUTE                                                                                                             ADOPTED - MAY 10, 2005

Agenda Item No. 5

Introduced by the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION HONORING JOEL FERGUSON

RESOLUTION #05-122

WHEREAS, Joel Ferguson has been an effective coalition builder throughout his life and has established himself as a true leader; and

WHEREAS,  Joel emerged as a voice in the African-American community during a period of civic unrest in 1967,  he became the first African-American and youngest member elected to the Lansing City Council, and he was the first African-American to serve on the Ingham County Board of Supervisors; and

WHEREAS, as a major player in every presidential election since 1972, Joel Ferguson made political history in 1988 when he orchestrated Jesse Jackson's stunning statewide victory in the presidential primary,  earning him the nickname "The Michigan Miracle Man"; and

WHEREAS, throughout his life Joel has been active in Michigan civic affairs, in 1986 he was elected in a statewide election to the MSU Board of Trustees and became its chairperson in 1992,  he is a Golden Heritage member of the NAACP, he sat on the boards of the Lansing YMCA, the Boy's Club, the Arthritis Foundation and Junior Achievement, he chaired the Mid-Michigan Cancer Drive as well as the United Negro College Fund Annual Telethon, in 1989 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, sat on the Greater Lansing Safety Council and was a member of the Citizen’s Commission to Improve Michigan Courts; and

WHEREAS. In 1987 Joel received the A. Philip Randolph Institute Award for achievements, dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of the people and in 2002, Governor John Engler appointed him to the eight-member Michigan Broadband Development Authority Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, on May 13, 2005, Joel will be receiving an award from the Lansing Black Lawyers’ Association.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby honors Joel Ferguson for the numerous contributions he has made to the citizens of Ingham County, his accomplished leadership has had a positive influence on the entire region.