Dear Editor:
It was an honor for me to participate at the March 13 Jersey City Council meeting where our esteemed Robert H. Slade was presented with a proclamation by Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham and City Council President L. Harvey Smith. Councilman At Large Mariano J. Vega, Jr. eloquently read the contents of the proclamation and related some of the exquisite background of Mr. Slade.
Robert H. Slade was the first African American to be elected in Hudson County to the Office of Freeholder in 1971. Mr. Slade is one of the few who served in two wars, World War II and Korea and was discharged with high honors. Robert then was introduced into the political arena by the late former Mayor of Jersey City John V. Kenny, and he excelled in the area of public service in many areas of the federal, state and county governments. Robert Slade earned his B.A. and Master of Science degrees but will often relate his pride in obtaining his GED as a young adult in Jersey City. To this day, Bob Slade reports to work daily as an Administrator at the Hudson County Division of Social Services.
I thank Mayor Cunningham and the entire Council for this well-deserved recognition of a true leader, statesman and more importantly a warm, caring human being whom I have the honor to call my friend.
Robert B. Knapp