LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Art Richter upon the occasion of
receiving the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation's 2010 Lifetime
Service Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the efforts of individuals who distinguish themselves in service
to the cause of working men and women in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Art Richter upon the occasion of his designation as the recipient of the
Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation's Lifetime Service Award; and
WHEREAS, He will be honored at the Hudson Valley Area Labor Feder-
ation's Fourth Annual Labor Heroes Celebration, to be held at The
Meadowbrook in New Windsor, New York on Friday, February 26, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Art Richter of Alliance at IBM and Citizens for Universal
Health Care, a man of singular distinction, is receiving this most pres-
tigious award from the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation in recogni-
tion of his unwavering commitment and significant contributions to the
community as a labor activist and area leader; and
WHEREAS, Art Richter is well-known to many residents in the Hudson
Valley for his dedication and activism within the labor movement and for
his work on behalf of healthcare reform; and
WHEREAS, Every Sunday for the past four years Art Richter has produced
the radio program "Radio Free Kingston," along with his co-host Jonathan
Sennett, Esq., during which they invite callers to speak out for good
government and reform and encourage their listeners to become active in
the process of true healthcare reform; and
WHEREAS, In 1943, while still in high school, Art Richter worked on
the second shift of the cable department at General Electric; he began
his apprenticeship with General Electric after graduation and completed
it in 1949; in 1949, he also joined his first picket line fighting for
jobs; and
WHEREAS, Art Richter also attended the Bridgeport Engineering Insti-
tute and, when he was eventually laid off from General Electric, he
pursued work on Long Island as a toolmaker; in 1953, he joined IBM work-
ing in the Planning Department until he retired in 1990 after 37 years
of outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, After retiring, Art Richter, encouraged by his daughter, a
primary care physician in Vermont, became very active in advocating for
Single Payer Healthcare; he is a member of the Board of Directors of
Healthcare-NOW and was one of the first participants in the Hudson
Valley Single Payer Healthcare Program, which originated in New Paltz;
and
WHEREAS, Art Richter has been a resident of the City of Kingston since
1955; with him throughout have been his wife Nancy and their six chil-
dren, 13 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, all of whom are
proud to be a part of his life and rejoice in his many accomplishments;
and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Art Richter has displayed throughout
his life; 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
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Art Richter upon the occasion of receiving the Hudson Valley

Area Labor Federation's Lifetime Service Award on February 26, 2010; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Art Richter, 190 Sherry Lane, Kingston, New York 12401.