HomeMy WebLinkAboutHonoring Rev. Donald L. Neely for Service as Chaplain of So. Bend Police & FireRESOLUTION
4046-10
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
September 13,
Attest:
City Clerk
President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
September 14, 20 10
Approved and signed by me September 15, 2010
~W~ ~u-t-~ a
City Clerk
Mayer
20 10
Resolution No. ~ ~ Flo -- ~ c7
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
HONORING REVEREND DONALD L. NEELY FOR HIS MORE THAN THREE (3) DECADES OF
LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE AS CHAPLAIN OF THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND SOUTH BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT
L'/~.reaJ, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, notes that on the 11 `h day of August,
1935, Donald L. Neely was born to Reba and Allen Neely, Sr.; was raised with strong family values and went on to
earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Dubuque; a Master of Divinity Degree from the University
of Dubuque Seminary; and a Doctorate Degree in Human Sexuality; and
Reverend Neely studied at the US Army Chaplain School at Ft. Hamilton, in New York and at
Ft. Slocum, in New York; served as a Army Chaplain in various units throughout the world, including Vietnam;
and was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army
Commendation Medal with "V" Device for Valor; and
~~~ Reverend Neely's long and distinguished career includes having served as a Presbyterian Church
Pastor; Associate Professor at IU South Bend; a member of the 2002 US Olympic Sports Massage Team; Grief
Counselor to a local funeral home; and many other Pastor assignments; and
4~~ in November of 1977, the Board of Public Safety for the City of South Bend appointed Reverend
Neely to be a Chaplain for the Police and Fire Departments and in this capacity he is known by the sworn members
of the departments as a most sincere person of "faith, comfort and strength" who is always working on ideas to
make the Chaplain Program the most vital and supportive program possible; was awarded the Wilbert Cunningham
Award for Excellence in Police Chaplaincy in 2008; and serves as a Chaplain to Miller's Vets, Company C; and
4~~ perhaps one of the best ways to attempt to thank Reverend Neely for the many lives which he has
positively touched, especially during tough and trying times, is to recall his very own words:
"You can crumble on the inside, but you've got to be a tower of strength
on the outside. Yozr just have to rnaintain that minister presence ".
~on,, C~il~xe~xe, /~e cl~~i~ ~ !fie ~omman ~ou.~aailo~l~e o~C-~',ul,~ ~P,xa! C~nd.,ana, as follows:
Section I. On behalf of all of the citizens of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common Council hereby
publicly honors and celebrates with a very grateful South Bend Community the many, many accomplishments and
the thirty-three (33) years of loyal and dedicated service of Reverend Donald L. Neely as a Chaplain to the South
Bend Fire and Police Departments.
Section II. The South Bend Common Council honors Reverend Donald L. Neely for his sincere
dedication, passion & special talents for serving for more than three (3) decades as Chaplain to the men and women
who serve and have served as police officers and firefighters on the South Bend Police & Fire Departments; &
would further like to thank him for providing words of inspiration to the City Council during his many Invocations.
Section III. The Common Council of the City of South Bend wishes Reverend Donald L. Neely, his wife,
Elaine, their children Lisa, Annette and Bruce; their seven (7) grandchildren Mallory, Joseph, Zoe, Erin, Ben, Liam
and Phoebe; and all of their family members the very best in the years ahead in ret' 'and hopes that they will
have many, many years of countless and timeless memories with family and f ' ds.
in full force and effect fiom~~~ af~ i~~ddption by the Council and
Al "Buddy" rs' , At Large
T' t A. l~se, At Lar
Karen L. White, At L rge
~___., _
Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney
C-~°~.mGex, ,Z0~0
Stephen J. Lu e, ayor of South Bend