 
Assembly Resolution No. 940
 
BY: M. of A. Heastie
 
        HONORING the life and legacy of Floyd Carter, Sr.
 
  WHEREAS,  The  quality and character of life in this Nation, and the
great State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and  good
works   of  those  patriotic  and  civic-minded  community  members  who
dedicated their lives and careers to the service of others; and
 
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to  honor  the
distinguished  life and accomplishments of Floyd Carter, Sr., Lieutenant
Colonel, United States Air Force (Ret.); and
 
  WHEREAS, Floyd Carter, Sr. was born in Yorktown, Virginia; he joined
the Army Air Corps in 1944, and was commissioned  as  a  2nd  Lieutenant
Bombardier Navigator in 1945; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  1946,  Floyd  Carter, Sr. received his pilot wings and
transferred the following year to  the  Air  Force  Reserves,  where  he
served  for  30  years until retiring in 1974, with the esteemed rank of
Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 732nd Military Airlift  Squadron
at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey; and
 
  WHEREAS,  During  his military career, Floyd Carter, Sr. served as a
bombardier navigator for the  famous  African-American  Tuskegee  Airmen
unit at Tuskegee University, where he met his wife, Artherine; and
 
  WHEREAS,  During  his tenure with the Tuskegee Airmen, Floyd Carter,
Sr.  and his fellow airmen overcame both internal challenges  and  enemy
fire in several war zones; and
 
  WHEREAS,  He spoke openly about the discrimination he and his fellow
airmen faced during their training,  which  was  the  main  reason  many
cadets left the program; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Floyd  Carter,  Sr.  flew  several  missions in war zones,
including World War II where he led the first squadron and  supply-laden
planes  into  Berlin  during the Cold War Airlift of 1948-1949, and flew
U.S. troops and supplies into South Vietnam during  the  Tet  Offensive;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  Shortly  before  his  retirement  from the U.S. Air Force,
Floyd Carter, Sr. once again made history as the first  African-American
commander of a heavy jet transport squadron; and
 
  WHEREAS, In addition to his reserve duties, Floyd Carter, Sr. became
part of New York's Finest, a New York City Police officer in 1953, where
he quickly rose to the rank of detective before retiring in 1980; and
 
  WHEREAS,  His  responsibilities  while a member of the NYPD included
work as a bodyguard for heads of state, even spending  time  with  Cuban
leader Fidel Castro and Soviet head Nikita Khrushchev; his distinguished
service  earned  him  a  half-dozen citations for his outstanding police
work; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  2007,  Floyd  Carter,  Sr.  was   honored   with   the
Congressional  Gold  Medal  award  by  then President George W. Bush and
remained active into his 90s serving as  grand  marshal  of  the  annual
Veteran's Day Parade in the Bronx in November of 2015; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Floyd  Carter  Sr.  is  survived  by his loving wife of 70
years,  Atherine;  two  children,  Floyd  Jr.  and  Rozalind;  and   his
grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren,  as  well  as  many friends and
colleagues who  will  long  cherish  his  good  character,  passion  and
positive attitude; and
 
  WHEREAS, Floyd Carter Sr.'s life was a portrait of service, a legacy
which  will  long  endure  the  passage  of  time  and  will remain as a
comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  the  distinguished life and accomplishments of Floyd Carter, Sr.,
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force (Ret.), and to  express  its
deepest condolences to his family; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Floyd Carter, Sr.
Honoring the life and legacy of Floyd Carter, Sr.

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