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Dr. Samuel H. Jordan, affectionately known as “Sam,” peacefully made his transition on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at the Fairland Nursing Home in Silver Spring, MD. Born October 31, 1932 in Petersburg, VA., Sam received his bachelor’s degree from UDC where he studied Administration and Supervision. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Southeastern University in the District of Columbia. Sam was a faithful and passionate public servant in the District Government for more than 40 years. He started his career as an Advisor to DC’s first elected Mayor, Walter Washington. He was appointed Director of the DC Office of Emergency Preparedness (now “HSEMA”) by Mayors Marion Barry and Sharon Pratt Kelly and chaired the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force, a body of local, federal, transportation and public safety officials charged with ensuring a comprehensive safety plan whenever a major event or protest was held in the nation’s capital. He also held the distinction of being the District’s Coordinator for the Presidential Inaugural Committee through seven administrations.
For over 30 years, Sam coordinated the city’s response to all major marches, demonstrations and special events, including the District’s urban riots of 1968, the Air Florida crash of 1982 and the Million Man March of 1995. In 1969, Sam assisted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the March on Washington and the establishment and management of Resurrection City.
WHEN/WHERE:
Monday, July 10, 2017 at 12PM
Union Temple Baptist Church
1225 W Street, SE
Family to receive friends from 10:00 am until time of service.
BACKGROUND: In addition to his leadership as a public administrator, Sam dedicated himself to community uplift and worked tirelessly as an advocate for youth and those most in need. In 1997, Jordan received the Greater Washington Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for community service among many others. He was recognized throughout the District for being an activist who worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for District residents. Courtland Milloy of the Washington Post once stated, “His job always has defied precise description, but his duties included making house calls to the most wounded parts of the District, diagnosing social ills and providing homespun remedies that helped reduce the number of people who would fall through the cracks”.
Sam is survived by his devoted wife, Jacquelyn; two sons, Reginald (Arlene) and Barry (Jeannette); two daughters, Terri (Anthinino) and Tracey; four grandchildren, Teirra, Julian, Kelli and Gabrielle; two great grandsons, Julian, Jr. and Jace; and a host of other relatives and close friends.
