LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Abdulsalam Noman upon the occasion of
being the first Arab-American to be elected to public office in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored customs, to recognize and pay tribute to those illustrious
individuals who work to enhance the profile of cultural diversity which
strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Abdulsalam Noman upon the occasion of being the first Arab-American to
be elected to public office in the State of New York, and only the
second in the Nation; to celebrate this auspicious occasion, a ceremony
was held at Curly's Banquet Facility, Lackawanna, New York; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, January 4, 2010, before a crowd of approximately
200 family members and friends from Lackawanna's Yemenite community,
Abdulsalam Noman took the oath of office as the incoming First Ward
Council member, as well as the City's first Arab-American elected
government official; he was officially sworn in by Lackawanna City Judge
Frederic Marrano; and
WHEREAS, Abdulsalam Noman came to Lackawanna from Yemen in 1975 with
his mother and one sister, two years after his father, Kassim,
emigrated; they followed his uncle, who came to work in the steel plant
in the 1950s, along with one other sister; the rest of his siblings came
at a later date; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Lackawanna High School, Abdulsalam Noman
obtained a degree in History from the University at Buffalo in 1986; and
WHEREAS, The proud father of four wonderful children, he has been
employed as both a teacher's aide and an Arabic translator for the Lack-
awanna City School District; furthermore, he is the high school soccer
coach; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and 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 Abdulsalam Noman upon the occasion of being the first Arab-Ameri-
can to be elected to public office in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Abdulsalam Noman.