January 19, 2022
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. 11
DIGEST OF RESOLUTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing James C.
Cummings, Jr., and urging the Indiana Department of Transportation
to name I-465 from mile marker 44.5 to mile marker 45.5 the "James
C. Cummings, Jr., Memorial Mile".
Crider
January 13, 2022, read first time and referred to Committee on Homeland Security and
Transportation.
January 18, 2022, reported favorably — Do Pass.
SC 11—RC 1518/DI ZS January 19, 2022
Second Regular Session 122nd General Assembly (2022)
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. 11
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION memorializing James
2 C. Cummings, Jr., and urging the Indiana Department of
3 Transportation to name I-465 from mile marker 44.5 to mile
4 marker 45.5 the "James C. Cummings, Jr., Memorial Mile".
5 Whereas, James C. Cummings, Jr. -- celebrated civic
6 leader, political strategist, and business executive -- was one of
7 Indiana's most influential leaders of the 20th century;
8 Whereas, Mr. Cummings was born on September 22, 1929,
9 on the west side of Indianapolis in the historic Fayette District;
10 Whereas, A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, Mr.
11 Cummings took photos and wrote stories for the Indianapolis
12 Recorder as a teenager and earned a bachelor of arts degree in
13 business from Indiana Central University, which was renamed
14 the University of Indianapolis;
15 Whereas, Following graduation from college, Mr.
16 Cummings served as a sergeant in the Korean War, after which
17 he returned to Indianapolis to work as a journalist for the
18 Indianapolis Recorder and later established Cummings Real
19 Estate, which specialized in buying and selling residential and
20 commercial properties throughout Indianapolis;
21 Whereas, Mr. Cummings was also a prominent leader in
22 the Republican Party on both the state and national stage,
23 where he helped found the National Black Republican Council
24 and assisted in opening chapters nationwide, served as a
25 director within the Republican National Committee, and was
SC 11—RC 1518/DI ZS 2
1 appointed deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of
2 Housing and Urban Development in 1985 under President
3 Reagan;
4 Whereas, Of all his accomplishments, perhaps his most
5 enduring and recognized achievement is founding Indiana
6 Black Expo;
7 Whereas, Established in 1970 with the first exhibition held
8 in 1971, the Expo has grown to become the largest African
9 American event in the nation;
10 Whereas, The event, which draws nearly 300,000 visitors
11 and celebrities to downtown Indianapolis each year, spans ten
12 days and includes concerts, a job fair, a business convention,
13 and other gatherings; and
14 Whereas, Recognizing the work of Mr. Cummings by
15 renaming a roadway near Black Expo Inc. and his beloved east
16 side neighborhood is the appropriate way to honor his role in
17 shaping Indiana’s cultural life, economic development, and
18 political landscape: Therefore,
19 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly
20 of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives
21 concurring:
22 SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly
23 memorializes James C. Cummings, Jr., and urges the Indiana
24 Department of Transportation to name I-465 from mile marker
25 44.5 to mile marker 45.5 the "James C. Cummings, Jr.,
26 Memorial Mile".
27 SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed
28 to transmit copies of this Resolution to the children of James C.
29 Cummings, Jr., and the Commissioner of the Indiana
30 Department of Transportation.
SC 11—RC 1518/DI ZS 3
COMMITTEE REPORT
Madam President: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security
and Transportation, to which was referred Senate Concurrent
Resolution No. 11, has had the same under consideration and begs
leave to report the same back to the Senate with the recommendation
that said resolution DO PASS.
(Reference is to SC 11 as introduced.)
CRIDER, Chairperson
Committee Vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0
SC 11—RC 1518/DI ZS