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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of William 1
Bryant "Bill" Gatewood. 2
WHEREAS, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, William Bryant "Bill" Gatewood 3
was born on April 6, 1944, to Ernest and Sarah Eaves Gatewood. His lifetime peers and 4
friends knew him only as "Bill" Gatewood; and 5
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood was raised in the Beecher Terrace Housing Community 6
in Louisville. He attended S.C. Taylor Elementary School, Madison Junior High School, 7
and Central High School. The elders of his community and teachers within these schools 8
assisted in shaping his personality to become a community and political activist. One of 9
his first experiences within the political realm was being elected president of his 10
homeroom class in his junior year at Central High School. Bill Gatewood continued his 11
leadership journey and was elected president of his school's graduating class; and 12
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood continued his scholarly journey to the University of 13
Louisville, where he focused his studies on subjects related to community development 14
and economic and political empowerment of working-class people of all races; and 15
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood was a devoted community and political activist within 16
his treasured hometown of Louisville. He worked tirelessly advocating for greater 17
employment opportunities and better educational services to underserved communities. 18
His day-to-day efforts aided in the pursuit of enhanced affordable housing stock for 19
working-class people, and greater representation of community groups underrepresented 20
on boards and councils. Bill Gatewood was instrumental in advocating how and when the 21
city's resources were needed to support social, political, and economic justice for 22
working-class people; and 23
WHEREAS, in 1979, Bill Gatewood and five others from the Chestnut Street 24
YMCA envisioned a mentoring program to serve African American youth. The 25
Louisville Black Achievers program was formed from this collaboration to advance the 26
economic well-being of Louisville's Black community. Bill Gatewood supported and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1780
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participated with a group of Black high-ranking city officials, along with civil rights and 1
community leaders, to form the organization PAC-10; and 2
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood was appointed by the Mayor of Louisville as the 3
director of the city's Office of Community Development. After leaving city government, 4
he became Director of Community Programs for the Presbyterian Community Center, a 5
church-supported non-profit organization in the Smoketown and Shelby Park areas of 6
Louisville. Through his work with the community center, Bill Gatewood collaborated 7
with the Metro Housing Resource Center. He also served as a community council 8
member for his Shawnee neighborhood in West Louisville; and 9
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood was an elder role model and pillar of leadership in his 10
family. He would deliver assistance and advice, to the degree he was able to, to anyone 11
within his family or community. On numerous occasions, Bill Gatewood welcomed 12
family members to live in his home rent free when they needed a place to stay for an 13
unspecified period of time; and 14
WHEREAS, Bill Gatewood was called peacefully to his Lord on January 19, 2023, 15
at the age of 78. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Arminta Poignard; his 16
parents; his sister, Sara Gatewood-Sanders; and his brothers, James Dobbins, Earnest 17
Gatewood, Craig Gatewood, Lavelle Gatewood, and Fred Gatewood. Bill Gatewood is 18
survived by his brother, Lucian "LB" Gatewood; his daughter, Adriann Gatewood; his 19
grandchildren, Ke'Aira (Robert) Wooden-Brown, Arianna Sadler, and William Hazard; 20
siblings from his father's third marriage, Johnny, Frankie, Bobbie, Lillian, Sally, and 21
Earnestine Gatewood; and a host of other close relatives and friends; 22
NOW, THEREFORE, 23
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 24
Kentucky: 25
Section 1. The Senate hereby extends its most profound sympathy upon the 26
passing of William Bryant "Bill" Gatewood and expresses heartfelt condolences to his 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1780
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family in this time of loss. 1
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 2
memory of William Bryant "Bill" Gatewood. 3
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this 4
Resolution to Senator Gerald Neal for delivery to the family. 5