Honor David Strader’s Legacy

Senate Resolution No. 3379 BY: Senator LITTLE MOURNING the death of David Strader, longtime National Hockey League Broadcaster, distinguished citizen and proud member of his Glens Falls community WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to outstanding individuals who distinguished themselves through their exceptional careers, attaining unprecedented success and the highest level of personal achievement; and WHEREAS, It is with feelings of great sorrow and deepest regret that this Legislative Body records the passing of David Strader, well-known National Hockey League (NHL) announcer, distinguished citizen and proud member of his community, noting the significance of the loss of a man with immense talent and an indomitable spirit; and WHEREAS, David Strader of Glens Falls, New York, died on Sunday,

October 1, 2017, at the age of 62; and WHEREAS, Born on February 24, 1955, in Glens Falls, New York, David was the son of the late Earl and Mary (Hoague) Strader; and WHEREAS, David Strader was a 1973 graduate of Glens Falls High School, where he was a member of the 1972-1973 basketball team that won the Class A Section II title and was later named to the Glens Falls High School Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, In 1977, David Strader graduated magna cum laude from UMass Amherst with a degree in communications studies, where he was also a member of the JV basketball team; and WHEREAS, While working at the student radio station, David Strader pursued his passion as a play-by-play announcer for UMass basketball games; and WHEREAS, David Strader was fortunate that a broadcasting opportunity presented itself in his hometown; he had never even seen a live hockey game when he took the job as the first voice of the Adirondack Red Wings in 1979; he soon became a two-time recipient of the New York State Broadcaster Association Award; this was the start of his hockey broadcasting career that would span 35-plus years, including 30-plus years covering the NHL; and WHEREAS, Throughout his esteemed career, David Strader was a play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings, ESPN, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, NBC Sports and the Dallas Stars; he was recently awarded two new Emmys for his call of the Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game which was played on February 18, 2017; and WHEREAS, David Strader was also the voice of over 100 consecutive Stanley Cup Final Games for NHL International television between 1997 and 2015; his career included calling the first regular season NHL games played outside North America when the NHL played two games in Japan ahead of the 1998 Nagano Olympics; and WHEREAS, David called Olympic hockey at the 2006 Torino and 2014 Sochi Winter Games, where he also called the Gold Medal Sled hockey game; and WHEREAS, One of his many career highlights was calling the NHL's

2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago but his two biggest honors were recent; David Strader received an Emmy award, along with the rest of the Dallas Stars TV crew, for their work on a Stars 2016 playoff game against the Minnesota Wild, and this June, it was announced he was the recipient of the 2017 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of broadcasting; moreover, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in November of 2017; and WHEREAS, In addition to all the hockey he called throughout his distinguished career, David Strader was happy when there was an opportunity to return to his first love, basketball; at ESPN, he called men's and women's college hoops, WNBA and D League games; at NBC, he also called men's college basketball as well as basketball for the 2012 London Summer Olympics; and WHEREAS, Although his career took him to many different locations around the country, he always kept a home in his beloved Glens Falls area; and WHEREAS, This exceptional man distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of his community; his commitment to excellence, and his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including charitable and civic endeavors; and WHEREAS, The most important event of David Strader's life was on

August 7, 1976, when he married his high school sweetheart, Colleen Casey; and WHEREAS, David Strader, who will be remembered for his extraordinary sense of humor, his one-liners, his silly song parodies and always being the life of the party, enjoyed being a member of the Glens Falls YMCA Noontime Basketball League, playing golf, long bike rides, and summers spent in Lake George on his boat with family and friends; and WHEREAS, David Strader's greatest source of happiness was his family; he was truly a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, and a man whose dedication to his loved ones took precedence over all things; and WHEREAS, In addition to his parents, David Strader is predeceased by his in-laws, John and Jean (Fitzgerald) Casey; he is survived by the love of his life and best friend, his wife of 41 years, Colleen Strader; three sons, Christopher (Karen) Strader, Trevor Strader, and Casey (Dr. Mary) Strader; two grandchildren, Sydney Strader and Charles Strader; siblings, Dr. Steve (Becky) Strader, Scott (Elizabeth) Strader, and Debbie (James) Mazza; sister-in-law, Shawn (Peter) Woolford; brother-in-law, Kevin (Mary Ann) Casey; and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as Colleen's wonderful extended family, all of whom he was very close to for more than 40 years; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, David Strader leaves behind 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 mourn the death of David Strader, 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 David Strader.