RESOLUTION NO. 120545

Honoring Bob Motley on receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the Marines during World War II.

WHEREAS, on June 27, 2012, Bob Motley along with nearly 200 other Montford Point Marines who survived World War II will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Obama in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, during World War II, Bob trained at Montford Point, a segregated facility at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune, that readied the first black Marines for combat; and

WHEREAS, more than 20,000 black men passed through Montford Point between 1942 and 1949; and

WHEREAS, Bob was 18 or 19 years old when he enlisted and was never one to shy away from volunteering; and

WHEREAS, Bob learned the discipline of being a Marine at Montford Point and learned how to fight during a course in combat in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Bob’s first love was umpiring which he learned to do while recovering from a gunshot wound in a hospital in Okinawa; and

WHEREAS, Bob was an umpire in the Negro Leagues, the minor-league Pacific Coast League, the College World Series, and various Big Eight league games for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Bob also worked for General Motors for 37 years; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby honor Bob Motley on receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for his service in the Marines during World War II; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Bob Motley with the appreciation of the Mayor, Council and citizens of Kansas City for his heroism in the face of adversity that he has faced throughout his life.

____________________________________________