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Chairman Phil Mendelson 2
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 5
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9
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To recognize and honor Paul Hamilton Williams on his 83
rd
birthday. 13
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WHEREAS, Paul Hamilton Williams is an internationally renowned singer-songwriter; 15
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams has won an Oscar and multiple Grammys for songwriting, was 17
inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has 18
co-starred in numerous films and written the scores for many popular movies and musicals; 19
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams has used his fame and fortune to inspire youth around the nation 21
and in Washington, DC to explore career opportunities in songwriting and music; 22
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams, as president of the American Society of Composers, Authors 24
and Publishers (ASCAP), has led ASCAP advocating for “Black Lives Matter” and is a leading 25
voice in the social justice movements promoting Black arts and culture; 26
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams has been an advocate in the recovery community since 1990, 28
and is a Certified Drug Recovery Counselor and co-author of Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations 29
That Will Change Your Life, and has a documentary film about his life, Paul Williams Still Alive; 30
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams authored the preface to Say the Second Thing by DC’s recovery 32
leader Johnny Allem who served numerous District mayors and has been a leading advocate for 33
recovery from substance abuse in Washington, DC; and 34
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams will celebrate his 83
rd
birthday on September 19, 2023 and will 36
mark that occasion in DC’s O Street Museum in the Mansion on September 18, 2023. 37
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 39
resolution may be cited as the “Paul Hamilton Williams Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 40
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Sec. 2. The Council recognizes Paul Hamilton Williams on the occasion of his 83
rd
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birthday, and designates September 18, 2023 as “Paul H. Williams Day” in the District of 43
Columbia. 44
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 46