Honor St. Patrick's Parade Leader

Senate Resolution No. 2973 BY: Senator KENNEDY COMMENDING James T. Callahan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the 2020 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to individuals of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who work diligently to preserve and celebrate their rich cultural heritage; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend James T. Callahan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the 2020 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and WHEREAS, In acknowledgment of this most prestigious appointment, James T. Callahan will have the honor of leading the 259th consecutive New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, March

17, 2020; and WHEREAS, James T. Callahan is the General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), a diversified trade union which represents 400,000 operating engineers working as heavy equipment operators, mechanics and surveyors in the construction industry, and stationary engineers, who work in operations and maintenance in building and industrial complexes; and WHEREAS, He was re-elected to a second term as General President at the 39th General Convention on May 6, 2018; and WHEREAS, A 39-year member and third generation operating engineer, James T. Callahan moved up the union's ranks from member to Shop Steward, Foreman, Trustee, and Business Representative to ultimately lead Local 15 in New York City as its 4th President and Business Manager in 2003; and WHEREAS, James T. Callahan began his illustrious career as an operating engineer in 1980; proficient in all mechanical aspects of maintenance and repair, he was initiated as a shop mechanic in Local 15C; by 1993, he had worked his way up to maintenance foreman and was an integral part of the team that worked on the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the terrorist bombing of the parking garage that killed and injured dozens of people; and WHEREAS, Eight years later, as a local union Business Agent, James T. Callahan found himself back at the World Trade Center; this time, he was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the September 11th tragedy and he stayed on to work through the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero; and WHEREAS, James T. Callahan was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Board in March of 2012, and serves on the AFL-CIO Executive Committee; in addition, he is a member of the Governing Board of Presidents for North America's Building Trades Unions; 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 James T. Callahan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the 2020 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to James T. Callahan.