PRINTER'S NO. 3035
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
773
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, ROEBUCK, READSHAW, THOMAS, NEILSON,
GREINER, KIRKLAND, SAINATO, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, VEREB,
BIZZARRO, MILLARD, GERGELY, ROZZI, ROSS, HARHART, WATSON,
SCHREIBER, MURT, DONATUCCI, CALTAGIRONE, MENTZER, BARBIN,
PASHINSKI, PAYNE, DiGIROLAMO, COHEN, KINSEY, D. COSTA,
MARSICO, BRADFORD, MAHONEY AND FARINA, APRIL 1, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 1, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life, memory and public service contributions of
Nelson M. Polite, Sr., of the City of Lancaster and extending
condolences to his family.
WHEREAS, Nelson M. Polite, Sr., died surrounded by family on
February 22, 2016, at 92 years of age in the same North Street
home in the City of Lancaster where he was born and lived all
his life except for four years while serving in the United
States Army during World War II; and
WHEREAS, A 1941 graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, Mr.
Polite was a devoted member of the Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church, serving as chairman of the Elders Board and as
trustee emeritus; and
WHEREAS, In 1988, Mr. Polite retired after working 42 years
as a United States Department of Defense marketing and sales
manager; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Polite held public office for 14 years as a
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member of the Lancaster City Council, serving two years as
council president, and as chairman of the Lancaster City
Planning Commission for a decade; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Polite founded the antidrug group DADDS
(Demonstrating Against Drug Dealers) and was an active leader of
the Lancaster Branch of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, Crispus Attucks Community Center,
Arbor Place Youth Center, Conestoga Elks Lodge, United Way of
Lancaster County, J.P. McCaskey High School Alumni Association,
Lancaster Recreation Commission, SouthEast Lancaster Health
Services and many other organizations; and
WHEREAS, Following in the footsteps of his father, Abraham,
who helped found the Lancaster NAACP in 1923, Mr. Polite was a
civil rights icon who always worked for equality and fairness;
and
WHEREAS, In 1947, Mr. Polite formed Boy Scout Troop 15 at a
time when Boy Scout troops were not open to black children in
either the City of Lancaster or County of Lancaster; and
WHEREAS, In the summer of 1963, Mr. Polite helped to lead
protest marches at the segregated Rocky Springs Park pool and in
front of downtown Lancaster stores that offered few jobs to
African Americans; and
WHEREAS, After the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., Mr. Polite walked the streets to urge calm; and
WHEREAS, As a member of the Mount Horeb Lodge No. 14, Mr.
Polite was elevated to the 33rd and last degree in the Ancient &
Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1975, and served many
leadership roles, including vice president of the Statewide
Masonic organization and 68 years as a Prince Hall Mason; and
WHEREAS, When asked in 2015 what he would like his legacy to
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be, Mr. Polite replied, "I want people to say Nelson Polite was
a good and useful person and he tried to do the best he could
for his neighborhood"; and
WHEREAS, A well-respected and strongly admired community
leader, Mr. Polite is deeply missed by all who knew him; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Polite, whose wife, Jean, died in 2004 after 54
years of marriage, is survived by their children, Deborah,
Nelson Jr., and Patrice, 12 grandchildren and many great-
grandchildren; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life,
memory and public service contributions of Nelson M. Polite,
Sr., of the City of Lancaster and extend condolences to his
family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the family of Nelson M. Polite, Sr.
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