Honor Melvina Lathan Achievement

23, 2018 WHEREAS, Women's History Month, celebrated each year in March, is a time to reflect upon and pay tribute to the women of our State and Nation for their contributions to their communities and their professions; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that women of every economic, ethnic, and religious background have made significant contributions to their community and to the State of New York, and it is appropriate to recognize them and to publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Melvina Lathan upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the 2nd Annual Women's History Month Celebration to be feted on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the Grinton I. Will Library in Yonkers, New York; and WHEREAS, Melvina Lathan has truly devoted herself to the welfare of her community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Melvina Lathan is a graduate of the Franklin College of Science and Arts; and WHEREAS, The first Chairwoman of the New York State Athletic Commission, Melvina Lathan has led a dual career as an exhibiting mixed media artist and the first African American female to become a licensed professional boxing judge; and WHEREAS, For many years, Melvina Lathan has served as a boxing judge in not only New York State, but also New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee, California, Texas, Missouri, and the Oneida, Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations; and WHEREAS, Melvina Lathan was a long-time member of the IBF, WBO, WBC and IBO, and during her distinguished career, worked more than 235 fight cards (883+ bouts) including 84 world title contests in the United States, Great Britain, South Africa, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Sicily, Argentina, Amsterdam, Poland, Scotland, Hungary, and China; as Chair of the New York State Athletic Commission, she has overseen thousands of rounds of boxing; and WHEREAS, Well-respected in her field, Melvina Lathan has devised and conducted training seminars for judges at the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Club in Manila, Philippines, the International Professional Boxing Union/Manny Pacquiao Boxing Club in Beijing, China; the first Tianjin Chinese International Boxing Exhibition Games, the European Boxing Union in Budapest, Hungary, the New York State Athletic Commission, the Washington D.C. Boxing Commission, the International Boxing Federation, and the World Boxing Organization, as well as the International Boxing Council; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her profession, Melvina Lathan has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2015 Woman of the Decade Award by Ring 8/New York Boxing Hall of Fame, the 2015 Titans Of The Trade Award by Mayweather Promotions, the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by Ring 8, New York Chapter, 2008 Administrator of the Year Award by the American Association of Ringside Physicians, 2002 Legends Award by The Black Women in Sports Foundation, and the 2001 Rocky Marciano Officials Award by the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing; and WHEREAS, This remarkable woman was also inducted into the New York Boxing Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, and the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, Melvina Lathan serves on the Board of Directors for the Police Athletic League, and the American Association for the Improvement of Boxing, and is a member of the consulting team which contributed to the earliest stages of planning and development for the Muhammad Ali Center, which is now located in Louisville, Kentucky; and WHEREAS, Melvina Lathan has worked for New York State in several capacities such as Commissioner with the Athletic Commission, and Chairperson of the New York State Athletic Commission, a position she held until her retirement in 2015; and WHEREAS, In this capacity, Melvina Lathan has accomplished numerous goals which have greatly supported and promoted the sport of boxing in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, With her throughout has been her husband, Dr. Billy Lathan, who has shown her love and support and rejoices in her many achievements; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned our recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Melvina Lathan upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition at the 2nd Annual Women's History Month Celebration on March