APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY DRAFT ________________________ CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S. INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KEVIN JENKINS RESOLUTION HONORING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LASTING LEGACY
OF
COACH
JOHN
BEAM
WHEREAS, Coach John Beam faithfully served the Laney College Eagles starting in 2004.
Initially
serving
as
a
Running
Back
Coach,
he
rose
to
Offensive
Coordinator
the
following
year.
Throughout
the
duration
of
his
20+
years,
his
leadership
successfully
propelled
the
Eagles
to
win
three
championships
and
five
consecutive
bowl
appearances,
which
marked
the
beginning
of
a
transformative
era
of
excellence
for
the
program;
and
WHEREAS, Coach Beam stepped into the honorable role of Head Football Coach in 2012,
where
he
continued
to
elevate
the
standard
of
the
Laney
Football
Program.
He
guided
the
Eagles
to
secure
two
league
titles,
earn
a
.600
winning
percentage,
compete
in
14 bowl
games,
obtain
three
CCCAAA
playoff
berths,
win
a
State
Championship,
and
was
even
honored
as
CCCAA
Coach
of
the
Year;
and
WHEREAS, Coach Beam was instrumental in the Laney College football team to achieve
national
recognition
on
Netflix’s
Last
Chance
U
in
2020,
where
the
resilience
and
perseverance
of
his
student-athletes
were
featured.
Additionally,
he
contributed
to
the
2025
short
film
First
Chance,
Best
Chance
U
,
which
captured
his
life
and
legacy;
and
WHEREAS, over the course of his 45+ year coaching career and Laney College and Skyline
High
School,
Coach
beam
mentored
over
2,500+
student-athletes,
led
them
through
over
500+
games
(239
of
which
were
victories),
and
helped
cultivate
over
30+
NLF
players
–
7 of
which
participated
in
the
Super
Bowl
–
along
with
profound
participation
in
the
NCAA,
the
Canadian
Grey
Cup,
and
NFL
Europe;
and
WHEREAS, Coach Beam’s remarkable influence across generations extends far beyond
the
football
field.
His
deepest
and
most
enduring
impact
was
constructing
a
football
program
that
is
today
distinguished
by
a
90%
graduation
and
transfer
rate.
His
former
students
–now
leaders
in
business,
public
service,
medicine,
education,
and
the
arts
–
uplift
the
lessons
he
instilled:
to
work
with
dignity
and
purpose,
persevere
through
challenges,
encourage
others,
and
believe
in
oneself;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Oakland City Council, hereby honors Coach
Beam’s
exceptional
legacy
of
heroic
mentorship,
leadership,
compassion,
and
service
to
the
City
of
Oakland.
In
his
memory,
may
we
dedicate
ourselves
to
advocating
for
safer
neighborhoods,
supporting
victims
of
violence,
and
championing
a
better
tomorrow
for
our
youth.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES - NOES – ABSENT – ABSTENTION – ATTEST: ASHA REED City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the City
of
Oakland,
California
2 2646873v9 / Attorney Initials - updated 1/9/2022 3