LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Frank Mickens, distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Frank Mickens of Brooklyn, New York, died on Thursday, July
9, 2009, at the age of 63; and
WHEREAS, Frank Mickens distinguished himself in his profession and by
his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
his community; and
WHEREAS, Frank Nathaniel Mickens was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant on
June 22, 1946, the only child of John and Hortense Mickens; his father
was a furrier and his mother a teacher; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn,
Frank Mickens received a Bachelor's degree in History from the State
University of New York at Potsdam in 1968; he later received a Master's
degree from New York University; and
WHEREAS, At age 22, Frank Mickens was hired as a teacher and basket-
ball coach at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn; in his 10 years as
coach, his team won six division titles, was runner-up in the Public
Schools Athletic League championship in 1971, and won the P.S.A.L. title
in the 1978-1979 season; and
WHEREAS, From 1982 to 1986, Frank Mickens was principal of a junior
high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant and then became principal of Martin
Luther King Jr. High School in Manhattan; he returned to Boys and Girls
High School in 1986; and
WHEREAS, Frank Mickens was a blunt, no-nonsense principal who brought
order and significant academic improvement to what was once one of New
York City's most troubled schools in Boys and Girls High School; and
WHEREAS, Though Bedford-Stuyvesant has experienced a degree of gentri-
fication in recent years, back in 1986, it was tormented by gangs, drug
dealing and drive-by shootings; Frank Mickens created a haven within the
walls of the school, and gave a chance for children to succeed; and
WHEREAS, Frank Mickens brought an array of tactics to his law-and-ord-
er philosophy; he incorporated a proper dress code not only to enhance
self-respect, but also to stop the number of funerals for students who
had been killed over their clothing; and
WHEREAS, To deal with unruly and truant students, Frank Mickens
created two programs; in his Principal's Academy, students with disci-
plinary problems received individual attention in separate classes, and
the other program was for students with more than 50 absences the previ-
ous year; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mickens' efforts produced national attention and drew
criticism from some educators, who questioned whether his tough measures
translated into academic success; to his credit, in the first seven
years of his term as principal, the school's graduation rate rose to
40.5 percent from 24.4 percent; by 2004, the year he retired, it had
increased to 47.5 percent; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
the lives of those esteemed individuals of educational renown who
distinguished themselves through their life's work; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Frank Mickens, distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Frank Mickens.