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RES - 2024 - 063 Attachment 1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION NAMING THE 203 GREENSBORO PROJECT THE DRAKEFORD <br /> LIBRARY COMPLEX <br /> WHEREAS , a Naming Committee comprised of members from the Board of Orange County <br /> Commissioners , Carrboro Town Council , and Friends of the Library met in the spring of 2024 <br /> to develop a community engagement process to name the public building jointly operated by <br /> the Town of Carrboro and Orange County at 203 S . Greensboro Street ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the committee reviewed results from a communitywide survey that received more <br /> than 200 responses and subsequently took a formal vote on September 24 , 2024 , to <br /> recommend that the building be named the Drakeford Library Complex ; and <br /> WHEREAS , Robert " Bob " Drakeford made history as Carrboro ' s first Black mayor , elected in <br /> 1977 and serving until 1983 ; and <br /> WHEREAS , Dr . Drakeford served as Alderman from 1975 to 1977 before being elected as <br /> mayor in 1977 , and as a graduate of UNC - Chapel Hill ' s city and regional planning program , he <br /> was an advocate for public transit and cycling , and he developed valuable collaborations with <br /> other progressive Black mayors in the South during his tenure ; and <br /> WHEREAS , Dr . Drakeford held public office when the Council (then Board of Aldermen ) hired <br /> Richard Knight as the town ' s first Black town manager , employed from 1976 - 1980 . And he <br /> served as mayor during the hiring of the Town ' s first professional planner , who was Black . This <br /> decision helped set high standards that eventually made Carrboro more accessible to <br /> pedestrians and cyclists . He also established a loan program to encourage business <br /> entrepreneurs and created the Carrboro Community Park , later renamed the Hank Anderson <br /> Community Park . The biggest issue during his tenure was planning the Chapel Hill - Carrboro <br /> Bus System ; and <br /> WHEREAS , Dr . Drakeford was a veteran who proudly served our country in the United States <br /> Army from 1966 to 1968 . Following his time in service , he received a Bachelor' s Degree from <br /> Quinnipiac University and his Master' s Degree at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill , <br /> going on to further his education by receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University <br /> of North Carolina - Greensboro . He was a Political Science Professor , serving with the U . S . <br /> Department of Agriculture and 4 - H Development at Auburn University ; and <br /> WHEREAS , Dr . Drakeford was born on April 25 , 1945 in New York City , N . Y . , son of the late <br /> Robert and Elizabeth McLeod Drakeford , and died on May 16 , 2022 ( buried at the Sandhills <br /> State Veterans Cemetery) ; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br /> Commissioners will remember Robert Drakeford for his service to the community by naming <br /> the new public building in his honor as the Drakeford Library Complex . <br /> This the 7th day of November , 2024 . <br /> J mez a Bedford , Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />