Bill Text: NY J01344 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Ralph Mirabelli upon the occasion of being inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-06 - ADOPTED [J01344 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J01344-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1344

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        HONORING  Ralph  Mirabelli  upon  the  occasion of
        being inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding athletes who have  distinguished  themselves  through  their
exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Ralph Mirabelli upon the occasion of being inducted into the Rome Sports
Hall of Fame, to be celebrated at a Ceremony on Sunday, July  30,  2023;
and

  WHEREAS,  Every year, the Rome Sports Hall of Fame publicly commends
the pursuit of athletic excellence, recognizes those who have  excelled,
and  strives  to preserve Rome's rich athletic heritage; Ralph Mirabelli
is truly deserving of this prestigious award; and

  WHEREAS, Ralph Mirabelli was an  excellent,  all-around  athlete  at
Rome  Free  Academy  as  a member of both the soccer and track teams; in
1989, he set an indoor record, won the Section III high jump  event  and
placed third at the New York State meet; and

  WHEREAS,  In  college,  Ralph Mirabelli also set an indoor high jump
record and won the 1991 New York State Collegiate Track  Conference  for
Binghamton  University;  he  then  went  on to participate in soccer and
track and field for the State University of New York at Cortland; and

  WHEREAS, In 1992, Ralph Mirabelli shifted gears and started training
and competing with the  National  Bobsled  and  Skeleton  Teams  at  the
Olympic  Training  Center  in  Lake  Placid,  New  York; to win, it took
tremendous amounts of  training,  race  preparation,  mastering  driving
techniques using high end aerodynamic sleds, and of course teamwork; and

  WHEREAS,  Ralph  Mirabelli found great success competing at an elite
level all around the world on the  United  States  National  Team  until
2003; during his international career, he was the United States National
two-man  Bobsled  Champion 1993, America's Cup Medalist, American Record
Holder Skeleton Push Start (Lake Placid 1994), United States Team Member
for Skeleton World Cup  and  World  Championships  1995,  United  States
Federation  Cup two-man Bobsled Champion 1996, United States Team Member
for Jr. World Bobsled 1996, and the Utah State Skeleton  Champion  (1998
Park City); and

  WHEREAS, Ralph Mirabelli was elected as an athlete representative on
the  United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation Board of Directors, a
position he held from 1998-2002; and

  WHEREAS, This talented sledder also competed many times in  the  New
York  State  Empire  State  Games;  he  began  in  the 1988 Summer Games
qualifying in the high jump and went on to  compete  and  medal  in  the
Winter Games in the bobsled, skeleton, and even in snowshoe racing; and


  WHEREAS,  In  2001,  Ralph Mirabelli was asked to light the torch at
the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Empire State Games in  Lake  Placid,
and in that same year, he was a member of the Local Organizing Committee
for  the  Summer  Empire State Games held in Rome and the Mohawk Valley;
and

  WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife Kelly, and their two
daughters, Mia and Lily, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his
life and rejoice in his achievements; and

  WHEREAS, Ralph Mirabelli has clearly  made  a  contribution  to  the
spirit of excellence which is a tradition of his Rome community; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such outstanding athletic accomplishments are brought  to
our  attention,  they  should  be recognized by all the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Ralph Mirabelli upon the occasion of being inducted into the Rome
Sports Hall of Fame; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Ralph Mirabelli.