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TO HONOR AND COMMEND MAJOR GENERAL JAMES WILLIAMS FOR FIFTEEN YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA.
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WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna is proud to honor and recognize General James Williams for 15 years of distinguished service to the citizens of this community. General Williams was appointed to the position of Emergency Operations Director on December 18, 2000; as such he was responsible for the extremely critical task of developing, maintaining and implementing the measures necessary to bring the capabilities of the City of Gahanna to respond to disasters and emergencies affecting the city and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Gahanna have been extremely fortunate to have a man with General Williams’ experience, education and can-do attitude lead our emergency management efforts. General Williams' extensive military career in the United States Army spanned over 4x years of service. His service included challenging assignments as Commander Joint Task Force Aleutian Islands and the north Pacific Rim, mobilization of forces for Operation Desert Storm to include implementation of a Family Assistance Program, and the westernization of countries formerly in the Warsaw Pact. He retired as a Two Star Major General in the Ohio National Guard serving as the Deputy STARC Commander in November 1993; and
WHEREAS, General Williams served as Chief of Staff for 27 years with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency in nuclear-related positions. Prior to that, he worked 11 years in nuclear medicine in the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio and at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, as Gahanna's Emergency Management Director, General Williams was on duty in Gahanna on September 11, 2001, and led the city through the extraordinary national, state and local security and preparedness changes resulting from that tragic event; he literally "wrote the book" of Gahanna's emergency operations plan that will serve this community, as well as the many Central Ohio communities that have copied his plan, for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, General Williams has also served the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency with distinction throughout his years of service, officially as the alternate for the Mayor of Gahanna, but in reality an invaluable executive committee member in his own right. General Williams served as a loaned executive to help lead the agency during the many months of transition between appointed directors in 2007-2008, was elected as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and also served many years as Gahanna's representative to the HSAC committee of the agency; and
WHEREAS, General Williams' knowledge and experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster reimbursement programs as well as EMA&HS grant processes has resulted in Gahanna realizing millions of dollars in funding, most notably for our 800 Mhz. Radio system; and
WHEREAS, General Williams, along with his wonderful wife of 60 years, Sally, were residents of Gahanna for over 46 years, and raised three beautiful daughters here, all who graduated from Gahanna Jefferson schools. Jim and Sally Williams have been community treasures, serving the Gahanna community in so many ways too numerous to list, even helping to found the Gahanna local charity Gahanna Residents in Need, (GRIN); and
WHEREAS, General Williams has made an indelible mark on the City of Gahanna. Perhaps his most important job duty has been "and all other duties as assigned; and
WHEREAS, Council wishes to express our greatest appreciation to General Williams for his meritorious service, devotion, and commitment to the City of Gahanna. We extend our finest wishes for continued success and happiness in all of Jim and Sally's future endeavors and life’s pursuits; you will be truly missed by all of us; and
noW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of GAHANNA, CountY of FRANKLIN, State of Ohio:
Section 1. That this Council hereby honors and commends General James Williams for fifteen years of distinguished service to the citizens of the community of the City of Gahanna.
Section 2. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately after passage by this Council.