ENROLLED ORIGINAL
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
March 7, 2023
To recognize and honor the contributions of the late Stephen Whatley for his decades of service
to the residents of the District of Columbia as a long-standing Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioner and through his service in the United States Army, in multiple federal
government agencies, as a champion for civil rights.
WHEREAS, Mr. Stephen A. Whatley was a third-generation Washingtonian who
built a family committed to service to the community. He married Annie Phillips, the love of
his life, in September 1973. Their daughter Christina’s (Chrissy) birth created the fourth
generation of native Washingtonians. They have been residents of Ward 4 for more than 35
years;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley graduated from West Virginia State University where he
received a B.A. in Economics. He also held a Master of Business Administration degree
from Southern Illinois University;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley served in the United States Army for 22 years, retiring
with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves where he served as
an Assistant Inspector General;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley began his career in federal government service in 1977
where he served as an economist for the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In 1980 he moved to
the Office of Thrift Supervision where he worked as a Senior Financial Analyst. In 2001 he
became a Financial Management Specialist with the United States Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service Financial Management Division;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley received numerous military and civic awards including the
U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal, the U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal with Oak
Leaf Cluster, the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, the Bureau of Economic Analysis
Special Achievement Award, the OTS Sustained Superior Performance Award, and multiple
USDA Performance Awards from 2002 to 2018;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley had many passions beyond those for his family and the
people of DC. His talent as a singer was well known in his church choir at the Nativity
Catholic Church. He was an avid golfer, tennis lover, youth soccer coach, and world traveler.
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His family describes him as having a big personality and truly enjoying talking to everyone
he meets;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Sigma Pi
Phi Fraternity also known as Boule’. Boule’ is the oldest fraternity for African Americans
and is considered the pinnacle of Black male achievement;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley was a lifelong champion of civil rights, participating in the
March on Washington, the Poor People’s Campaign, and multiple marches supporting the
creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley was first sworn in as an Advisory Neighborhood
Commissioner for ANC 4A03 in January 2001. In more than 20 years of service as a
Commissioner, he held every office including Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
He was the de facto “Historian” of ANC 4A with a copy of almost every resolution he’d
written readily available as a resource should it be needed;
WHEREAS, as an ANC Commissioner, Mr. Whatley was instrumental in ensuring
passage of legislation benefitting all District residents. Those measures included removing
the 11% tax on utility bills, fighting against rate increases on utility bills, proposing
legislation that would allow students to remain on their parent’s health insurance until they
turn 28 (and long before President Obama passed the Affordable Care Act), supporting the
improvement of infrastructure projects in Shepherd Park and Brightwood, and fighting for
increased funding for neighborhood schools;
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley played an integral role in the development of the plan to
develop The Parks at Walter Reed to ensure it fits with the community’s vision and interests.
He also assisted in the development of the Children’s National Medical Center at The Parks
at Walter Reed;
WHEREAS, Commissioner Whatley announced his resignation from the ANC on
February 7, 2023, and he passed away on February 17, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Whatley is loved by his family and his community for the many,
many ways he has helped and influenced them in his lifetime of service.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Stephen Whatley Posthumous Recognition Resolution of
2023”.
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Sec. 2. The Council honors and celebrates the career and public contributions of Mr.
Stephen Whatley for his decades of service to his community in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
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