Bill Text: NY J00523 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-27 - ADOPTED [J00523 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-J00523-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 523 BY: Senator KENNEDY COMMENDING Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the 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 Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and WHEREAS, In acknowledgment of this most prestigious appointment, Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer will have the honor of leading the 258th consecutive New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Saturday, March 16, 2019; and WHEREAS, The New York City St. Patrick's Parade marched for the first time in 1762, 14 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; the Parade is regarded as the most popular of all the Parades in New York City, and honors Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and Ireland; and WHEREAS, Throughout his meritorious life, Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer has strived to promote Irish culture and establish strong ties between America and the Emerald Isle; and WHEREAS, A native New Yorker, Brian J. O'Dwyer comes from a legendary Irish American family; he is the son of the late Paul O'Dwyer, civil rights advocate and past President of the New York City Council, and the nephew of The Honorable William O'Dwyer, former Mayor of New York; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer was educated in the New York City public school system and graduated from the High School of Music and Art, now known as LaGuardia High School; he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from The George Washington University and a Masters of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Madrid, Spain; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer furthered his education by obtaining his Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree in law from The George Washington University; in July of 2013, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Dublin City University; and WHEREAS, Currently, Brian J. O'Dwyer is the senior partner at O'Dwyer & Bernstein, LLP, a law firm founded by his father; as a son of Irish immigrants, he has been a consummate advocate for immigrants' rights, and has dedicated his life to serving his American Irish Community; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer founded the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, which is the largest Irish immigrant center in the United States; since its inception, the center has assisted thousands of Irish men and women as they immigrated to New York City; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer has also served as both Chairman and Counselor for the Asociacion Tepeyac, an organization which provides advocacy and services to New York's growing Mexican community; and WHEREAS, A former Spanish teacher at The George Washington University and Malcolm King College, Brian J. O'Dwyer is the co-Chair of the board of the Graduate School of Political Management of The George Washington University, and holds the title of Treasurer of the City University of New York Law School Foundation; and WHEREAS, This remarkable man is also the national President of his college fraternity, Kappa Sigma, and presently serves as an advisor to many chapters in the New York City area; in 2012, he was named The Fraternity's Man of the Year by Kappa Sigma, only one of 76 in the history of the fraternity, and was presented with the Dean's Medal from the City University of New York Law School Foundation; and WHEREAS, Proud of his Irish heritage, Brian J. O'Dwyer's extensive work in the political arena has concentrated largely on promoting Irish and Irish-American interests; he was part of the delegation that accompanied President William Clinton to Ireland on each of his three trips and served as an advisor to the White House on Irish issues including the peace process; he was appointed by President Clinton as a Commissioner of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, and was awarded the Director Citation for Exemplary Public Service by the White House; and WHEREAS, In June of 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appointed him Commissioner of the United States National Commission for UNESCO; and WHEREAS, Today, Brian J. O'Dwyer continues to work to advance Ireland's causes and business interests in the United States as Chairman of the Irish Chamber of Commerce USA where he works to facilitate American investment in Ireland and Northern Ireland; he also serves as a member of the Board of Ireland West Airport in Knock, County Mayo Ireland; and WHEREAS, For his steadfast and unremitting commitment to the causes of Ireland and immigrants, Brian J. O'Dwyer has been the recipient of numerous accolades including an award by the Irish Immigration Reform Movement and the Brehon Law Society, and was selected Chief Brehon of the Coney Island Irish Fair; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer also received the 2015 Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award by the Ancient Order of Hibernians for his work in the cause of peace, justice, and the economic well-being of the Irish people, and has been selected by Irish America magazine on numerous occasions as a member of the Top 100 Irish in the United States; and WHEREAS, In June of 2012, Brian J. O'Dwyer was honored as one of the top 25 Irish who have made a difference by Irish Voice Magazine, and in 2013, the Irish Echo, the oldest Irish American Newspaper, named him its Man of the Year; he was the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award and the 1994 Outreach Project Annual Service Award; and WHEREAS, Brian J. O'Dwyer has also received many recognitions from the Catholic Church; he was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, received a papal knighthood conferred by Edward Cardinal Egan, and was conferred with The Child of Peace Award by the Catholic Home Bureau; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, Brian J. O'Dwyer has been cited many times and received awards from the New York City Council, the government of Puerto Rico and the State of New York; and WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, the former Marianna Page MacWilliam; their two children, Brendan Keith and Kathleen Page; and four grandchildren, Paul Ellis, Patrick Trescott, Reilly Page and Hailey Grace, all of whom have shown him love and support and rejoice in his many achievements; and WHEREAS, A fitting choice for Grand Marshal for the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer embodies the spirit and the cherished ideals and values of Irish-Americans of this great State and Nation; he is a steadfast champion of all things Irish and Irish American; and WHEREAS, A St. Patrick's Day Parade reflects and records the ongoing history of the United States and Ireland, and provides an opportunity for people of all generations to assemble in ethnic pride and pageantry; 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 Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Dr. Brian J. O'Dwyer, Esq.