1Honoring the life and public service contributions of William
2Russell Blakey and extending condolences to his family.

3WHEREAS, William "Bill" Blakey, a lifelong resident of the
4City of Pittsburgh and a widely recognized community advocate,
5died on June 24, 2014, at 86 years of age; and

6WHEREAS, Mr. Blakey generously dedicated his energies to the
7betterment of Pittsburgh's Hill District, considered by many to
8be the city's cultural center of African-American life; and

9WHEREAS, Mr. Blakey's efforts on behalf of the Hill House
10Association and its predecessor agency, SoHo Community House,
11trace back to the early 1950s; and

12WHEREAS, Mr. Blakey dedicated nearly 60 years to supporting
13its work as the first agency to comprehensively address health,
14welfare, recreation and community programs for the benefit of
15Pittsburgh's African-American community; and

1WHEREAS, At the time of his retirement, Mr. Blakey was the
2longest tenured employee of the Hill House Association; and

3WHEREAS, Mr. Blakey was named a recipient of the 2013 Thelma
4Lovette Community Service Award in recognition of his positive
5community leadership in keeping with Mrs. Lovette's principles;
6and

7WHEREAS, A humble man who never sought recognition, Mr.
8Blakey was a neighborhood fixture who was also known for
9assisting people outside of his workplace and sharing his
10knowledge of the Hill District's history; and

11WHEREAS, Mr. Blakey was a true pillar of the community who
12earned the love and admiration of the residents of the Hill
13District and the City of Pittsburgh; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
15and public service contributions of William Russell Blakey and
16extend condolences to his family; and be it further

17RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
18the family of William Russell Blakey.