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Features
Federal Transit Workforce Grant Has Paid Off For HART And CDC
ERNEST CONEY ...CEO of CDC
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
A federal grant to help train dozens of people find jobs and get training in mass transit is paying off in Tampa.
Three years ago, the non- profit, Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. (CDC),was one of 17 organiza- tions in 12 states that shared in $7 million awarded from the federal agency's Innovative Transit Workforce Develop- ment Program to implement the "Meeting Today's and To- morrow's Job Needs in Mass Transit” program.
The CDC and HART joined together to design certifica- tion-based training courses and a program curriculum and select about 50 people to par-
CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY CASTOR
ticipate in the program. Receiving the grant was timely as it aligned with HART’s move to switch from buses that use gasoline to those that run on the more en- vironmentally-friendly com- pressed natural gas, the nonprofit’s CEO Ernest Coney said in a telephone in-
terview.
“It’s a new technology so
those who are used to doing diesel mechanic work will need to be retrained,” he said. “The technology is creating a new workforce.”
Thirty of the participants are new employees and 15 par- ticipants were trained to repair the buses, Mr. Coney said.
“It’s really an exciting time with HART being located right in East Tampa,” Mr. Coney
said. “It shows a great partner- ships with the public and pri- vate sectors.”
On Tuesday, U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor hosted a press conference to discuss how the grant provides training for green jobs and the region’s track record for using federal grant monies.
In a telephone interview, HART CEO Katharine Eagan said when HART switched to using compressed natural gas in its vehicles three years ago, it was the first to do so.
Thanks to the grant, it now has the resources necessary to train its current staff as well as new hires to keep up with the new technology, she said.
“There’s good things in Tampa being made possible with folks in Tampa,” she said.
KATHARINE EAGAN ...CEO of HART
Retired Pharmacist Dies Following Lengthy Illness
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular Tampa phar- macist died following a lengthy illness on Tuesday. Mr. Robert Benjamin Morrison, Sr., was 90- years-old.
A native of Boston, Massa- chusetts, Mr. Morrison, known as “Doc Morrison,” moved to Tampa with his par- ents, Rev. and Mrs. Lenworth S. (Elizabeth) Morrison, as a youngster. Following graduation from high school, Mr. Morrison was drafted into the U. S. Army and served for two years during World War II.
He returned to Florida and enrolled at Florida Me- morial College, in St. Augus- tine. Mr. Morrison transferred to Xavier Univer- sity, where he completed his studies and earned his B. S. Degree in Pharmacy in 1952.
Mr. Morrison launched his career as a pharmacist working at pharmacies in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. In 1956, he opened Morrison’s Pharmacy at the corner of N. 34th Street and E. Buffalo (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd.). He served the East and West Tampa communities for more than 42 years with businesses op- erating in both areas of town.
Mr. Morrison was hon- ored for more than 50 years of service as a licensed phar- macist and was granted the emeritus status by the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
Mr. Morrison was a member of several profes-
sional organizations. He re- tired after more than 50 years of serving his community.
He met his future wife, Ms. Helen Martin during his enrollment at Xavier Uni- versity. The couple was mar- ried for 62 years and became the parents of 4 children: Bob Jr., Teresa, Jerome, and Gianna Morrison.
In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Morrison is survived by 8 grandchildren, 3 sisters, nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Morrison will be held on Tuesday, April 12th, at 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church of Col- lege Hill. Aikens Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
For several years, Mr. Morrison was a member of New Bethel Progressive Bap- tist Church. He later changed his membership to attend First Baptist Church of Col- lege Hill.
MR. ROBERT B.
MORRISON, SR. 10/26/1925 to 4/6/2016
FYI
Friendraiser Luncheon
Former City of Tampa Mayor, Pam Iorio, President/CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, will be the luncheon speaker for the St. Peter Claver Friendraiser Luncheon. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, 11:30 a. m. (check-in) until 1 p. m. The event will be held at the Dou- bleTree Hotel, 4500 W. Cypress. For more information contact the school, (813) 224-0865.
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