Honor Charles Houston’s Service

Senate Resolution No. 3036 BY: Senator AVELLA COMMENDING Charles Houston upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service as Executive Director of Queens Centers for Progress WHEREAS, Individuals devoted to improving the quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals to be recognized for the significance of their contributions and efforts to assist others in developing the skills necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Charles Houston upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service as Executive Director of Queens Centers for Progress, to be celebrated on Thursday, June 22, 2017; and WHEREAS, Charles Houston, affectionately known as Charlie, began his illustrious career in vocational rehabilitation in the late 1960s, working in several New York City agencies as a vocational evaluator, rehabilitation counselor, workshop manager, and vocational program administrator; and WHEREAS, In 1981, Charlie Houston started working for Queens Centers for Progress (QCP), formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Queens, an agency in New York City which provides comprehensive services to children and adults with developmental disabilities; just six years later he was promoted to Executive Director, the esteemed position from which he will retire; and WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, the agency has grown more than fourfold and has greatly expanded its range of services; and WHEREAS, Charlie Houston has been instrumental in this tremendous growth, overseeing more than 600 of the agency's staff in providing clinical, therapeutic, educational, residential, vocational, and day service options to individuals from infancy to senior citizens; and WHEREAS, Charlie Houston has been active in several statewide and national provider associations including as: Board member and past President of the InterAgency Council of Mental Retardation and Disability Services agencies; Board member and past Treasurer of the New York State Rehabilitation Association; Board member of Advance of Greater New York; and Board member and past President of ACCSES, a national organization representing providers of services to people with disabilities; and WHEREAS, After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, Charlie Houston spent two years in graduate school at NYU, went into VISTA, and then obtained his Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Julie, and their two children, Molly and James, as well as one granddaughter, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and WHEREAS, For the past 36 years, Charlie Houston rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to Queens Centers for Progress, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Charles Houston upon the occasion of his retirement after many years of distinguished service as Executive Director of Queens Centers for Progress; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Charles Houston.