LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mary M. Lai upon the occasion of her
designation as a 2013 Long Island Center for Business and Professional
Women Achiever

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding individuals who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional 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 Mary
M. Lai upon the occasion of her designation as a 2013 Long Island Center
for Business and Professional Women Achiever; this auspicious occasion
will be celebrated at the Center's 34th Annual Achievers' Awards Gala,
to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013; and
WHEREAS, For more than thirty-five years, the Long Island Center for
Business and Professional Women has been dedicated to advancing women in
business, industry and the professions; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women
celebrates and honors women who are leaders, mentors and who have opened
doors for other women to help foster their rise in business, the
professions and in their community; and
WHEREAS, A living legend in higher education finance, Mary M. Lai is
the Treasurer Emerita of Long Island University (LIU); she was LIU's
first Chief Financial Officer and one of the first women in the United
States to rise to that rank; and
WHEREAS, Mary M. Lai is likely the longest-serving academic business
officer in America; she is in her 67th year of full-time employment at
LIU and remains an integral part of the University administration, serv-
ing as Treasurer Emerita and senior adviser; and
WHEREAS, On July 27, 2012, Mary M. Lai was named the Inaugural Recipi-
ent of National Association of College and University Business Officers'
Pathfinder Award which recognizes individuals who have made longstanding
contributions to the business officer profession; and
WHEREAS, Mary M. Lai helped build the foundation for the success of
the National Association of College and University Business Officers;
she was responsible for the advancement of the business officer profes-
sion in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Mary M. Lai earned a B.S. in Accounting from LIU's Brooklyn
campus, graduating magna cum laude in 1942; and
WHEREAS, In 1941, Mary M. Lai married her college sweetheart, William
T. "Buck" Lai, a graduate of the LIU Class of 1941; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion presents a unique opportunity for
this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to Mary M. Lai; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their profession and community,
and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence, 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
honor Mary M. Lai upon the occasion of her designation as a 2013 Long
Island Center for Business and Professional Women Achiever; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mary M. Lai.