Bill Text: NY J00388 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 388 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Mourning the death of Stanley Hill, a pioneering African-American labor leader, devoted family man and dedicated member of his community

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Passed) 2019-02-12 - ADOPTED [J00388 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00388-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 388

BY: Senator SANDERS

        MOURNING  the  death of Stanley Hill, a pioneering
        African-American labor leader,  devoted  family  man
        and dedicated member of his community

  WHEREAS,  Within  every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment  and  dedication,
command  the  respect  and  admiration  of their community for their key
contributions and service on behalf of others; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to mourn  publicly
those   distinguished   citizens  who  demonstrated  great  courage  and
diligence in providing for the care and welfare of the citizens of their
communities and this great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, With feelings of  deepest  regret,  this  Legislative  Body
records  the passing of Stanley W. Hill of Rochdale Village, Queens, who
died on Friday, January 25, 2019, at the age of 82; and

  WHEREAS, Stanley Weldon Hill was born to Merton  and  Anna  (Grover)
Hill on September 24, 1936, in the South Bronx, New York, and was raised
on  the  Lower  East  Side  of  Manhattan; after graduating from Central
Commercial High School in Manhattan, he attended  Iona  College  in  New
Rochelle,  New  York,  on an athletic scholarship and graduated in 1959;
and

  WHEREAS, While  playing  basketball  for  the  Iona  College  Gaels,
Stanley Hill experienced racism when the governor of Mississippi ordered
the  players  of  the University of Mississippi not to play against Iona
College because it had black players; the Iona College team  walked  off
the court in protest; and

  WHEREAS,  After college, Stanley Hill worked as a welfare caseworker
for the City of New York; in 1965, he  joined  the  picket  lines  of  a
28-day strike by welfare workers demanding collective bargaining rights;
and

  WHEREAS,  Stanley  Hill became the first black executive director of
District Council 37 of the American  Federation  of  State,  County  and
Municipal  Employees  (AFSCME), the largest public employee union in New
York City, in 1987 after succeeding  Victor  Gotbaum  and  served  until
1999;  he  became the associate director of District Council 37 in 1981;
he fought for labor rights, fair wages, benefits and  job  security  for
workers; and

  WHEREAS,  On  February  24,  2012, Stanley Hill was honored with the
first ever "Trailblazer Award"  by  the  athletics  department  at  Iona
College  in  recognition of his role in helping to bring civil liberties
and social awareness to the forefront of American culture; and

  WHEREAS, Stanley Hill is survived by his wife, Ruby; his sons, Brett
and Stanley, Jr.; and four  grandchildren,  Sean,  Brandon,  Jordan  and
Brett, Jr., all of whom will long cherish his memory; now, therefore, be
it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Stanley Hill,  a  pioneering  African-American  labor
leader; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Stanley Hill.