Honor Joe Silkowski Retirement

Senate Resolution No. 2753 BY: Senator GRIFFO CONGRATULATING Joe Silkowski upon the occasion of his retirement after 38 years of distinguished service to the Rome Sentinel WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have devoted themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their community and the needs of its residents; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Joe Silkowski upon the occasion of his retirement after 38 years of distinguished service to the Rome Sentinel, effective Friday,

January 31, 2020; and WHEREAS, Joe Silkowksi began writing for the Rome Sentinel in 1982, at the age of 27; throughout his 41-year career in the newspaper industry, 38 of those years spent in Rome, New York, he has been responsible in part for editing more than 20,000 sports pages; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Joe Silkowksi has been a icon in local sports for the better part of four decades, covering approximately 750 high school and college sporting events; and WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure at the Rome Sentinel, Joe Silkowksi has had the privilege of reporting on numerous monumental sporting events in the greater Rome area, including an interview with Michael Jordan, who was in his last season with the University of North Carolina, when they played Syracuse University at the Carrier Dome on

December 10, 1983; and WHEREAS, An avid Buffalo Bills fan, Joe Silkowski had always hoped to write the headline, "Bills Super Bowl Champs"; although he was not able to write the headline himself, he hopes someday he can read all about it in the Rome Sentinel, the newspaper he has grown to become a staple of; and WHEREAS, Sincerely loved and greatly respected by all those with whom he worked with, and wrote for, Joe Silkowski will be remembered for his honesty, integrity, keen sense of duty and ability to show a unique grasp of the sporting world in his writing; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate Joe Silkowski upon the occasion of his retirement after 38 years of distinguished service to the Rome Sentinel; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Joe Silkowski.