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A resolution honoring the life of Mr. Arnett H. Bodenhamer, Sr.
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WHEREAS, Mr. Arnett H. Bodenhamer, Sr., was born on April 17, 1934 in Giles County, Tennessee, to parents William "Sam" and Pearline Bell (Pryor-Brown) Bodenhamer; and
WHEREAS, after the death of his father, Mr. Bodenhamer moved to Nashville where he went on to graduate from Pearl High School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bodenhamer desired to improve the quality of life for all residents and showed this every day through his leadership, commitment, and devotion to Nashville; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bodenhamer served in the U.S. Army for more than twenty years, including service in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Panama Canal Zone, retiring in 1973; after retiring he was the National Sales Manager for a Soft Lines Apparel Company, and later served as President and CEO of Arnett & Associates Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bodenhamer was a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ("NAACP") and on November 16, 2004, was elected to serve as president of the Nashville Branch of the NAACP, a position which he held with distinction; and
WHEREAS, some of his major accomplishments during his tenure as President of the NAACP included an increase in membership, the continuation of a successful Freedom Fund Raiser, the revitalization of the Nashville NAACP Branch Act-SO Program, the revitalization of two college chapters (Fisk University and Tennessee State University), and getting youth involved in programs and leadership positions; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bodenhamer was instrumental in assisting with the negotiations of the Clarksville NAACP Branch in successful action against the Police Department, working to assist the Franklin Firefighters in a discrimination case, working with Metro Nashville Public Schools to reduce class size and working with the local and state Government on Disparity Studies and the enforcement of the Title 6 Program; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bodenhamer was active...
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