07 LC 96
2534
House
Resolution 673
By:
Representatives Lindsey of the
54th,
Richardson of the
19th,
Ralston of the
7th,
Fleming of the
117th,
Willard of the
49th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
and remembering the life of Clifford Oxford; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia lost one of its most dedicated lawyers and community
servants with the passing of Clifford Oxford on February 28, 2007;
and
WHEREAS,
a highly motivated and intelligent young man, Clifford attended night classes at
Emory University School of Law, and he served five years as an attorney for the
Judge Advocate General's office with the Army Air Corps and three years as an
attorney for the Air Force; and
WHEREAS,
he joined the Atlanta Jaycees in 1946, and, after being elected public affairs
chairman, was charged with heading a committee to seek laws to unmask the Ku
Klux Klan in Atlanta, a task that he pursued tirelessly, recruiting the aid of
lawyers and civic organizations throughout the city; and
WHEREAS,
he succeeded during a time when confronting the Ku Klux Klan was not a popular
movement, and in 1949, the Atlanta City Council adopted an ordinance forbidding
the wearing of masks on city streets; and
WHEREAS,
for his efforts, Clifford was named "Atlanta's Young Man of the Year" and
selected by
Time
magazine as one of the "100 Leaders of Tomorrow"; and
WHEREAS,
during the early 1950's, his mother suffered a nervous breakdown and she was
placed in the Georgia Mental Hospital in Milledgeville; horrified by the
conditions there, Clifford helped found and served as president of the Georgia
Association for Mental Health; and
WHEREAS,
he was a champion of the community, and his leadership was instrumental in such
as developments as the fluoridation of Atlanta's water for the health of
children, the establishment of the MARTA transit system, the abolishment of the
old county unit voting system, the founding of the Georgia State University
College of Law, and the establishment of a traffic school for first time
offenders; and
WHEREAS,
in 2001, the GSU College of Law presented Clifford with its eighth Ben F.
Johnson Public Service Award, which honors a Georgia lawyer whose life reflects
selfless public service.
WHEREAS,
his devotion to his community was surpassed only by his unshakeable love for his
family, and his survivors include a loving daughter, Glo Elizabeth Oxford; two
grandsons; a step-grandson; a step-granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS,
in life he commanded the esteem of his fellow Georgians; at his death it is
fitting and proper that we extend sympathy to his family, colleagues, and
friends.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join together to express their deepest regret at the passing of
Clifford Oxford and extend their most sincere condolences to his
family.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Clifford Oxford.