RESOLUTION NO. RS2003-1558

A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to name the gymnasium at Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet School in honor of Coach Cornelius Ridley.

WHEREAS, Coach Cornelius Ridley, a legendary high school basketball coach, passed away on June 13, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Coach Ridley’s record consisting of 684 wins, 171 losses, and 5 state championships ranks him as Middle Tennessee’s most successful high school basketball coach of all time; and

WHEREAS, Coach Ridley was instrumental in the integration of high school sports in Nashville; and

WHEREAS, Coach Ridley served as a teacher and coach for 35 years, first at Pearl High School, then Maplewood, and finally at Whites Creek before retiring in 1991; and

WHEREAS, Coach Ridley further served the Nashville and Davidson County community on the Metropolitan Board of Public Education from 1991 to 1996; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to name the Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet School gymnasium in honor of Coach Cornelius Ridley in recognition of his outstanding service as an educator, coach, and school board member.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Board of Public Education to name the Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet School gymnasium in honor of Coach Cornelius Ridley.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Board of Public Education.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Melvin Black