LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring American novelist Harper Lee upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition to be celebrated
April 28, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those exceptional journalists of this great Empire State who
have distinguished themselves in their profession while entertaining us
and enriching our lives with their creative talents; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
American novelist Nelle Harper Lee upon the occasion of her designation
for special recognition, and to wish her a very Happy 84th Birthday on
April 28, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Born April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, Nelle Harper
Lee was the youngest of four children of Francis Cunningham Finch and
Amasa Coleman Lee, a lawyer who served in the Alabama State Legislature
for 12 years; both of her parents played important roles in the creation
of Harper Lee's American Classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD; and
WHEREAS, After attending the University of Alabama, Harper Lee moved
to New York City in 1950, and worked as a reservations clerk with East-
ern Air Lines and BOAC; after writing several long stories, Harper
located an agent; and
WHEREAS, For Christmas in 1956, Harper Lee's friends gave her the gift
of a year's wages to take leave from her job, allowing her to write
full-time; within a year, she had the first draft of TO KILL A MOCKING-
BIRD; subsequently, it was completed by the summer of 1959, and
published in 1960; and
WHEREAS, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was an immediate bestseller, and today
there are more than 30 million copies in print; in 1961, Harper Lee
received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; and in 1999, the LIBRARY JOUR-
NAL voted TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD as the "Best Novel of the Century";
Harper Lee did not continue her career as a writer; and
WHEREAS, After completing TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Harper Lee accompa-
nied her friend, Truman Capote, to Kansas, assisting him in what became
another classic, IN COLD BLOOD; Harper Lee continues to split her time
between New York City and her sister's home in Alabama; and
WHEREAS, In 1962, the screen adaptation starring Gregory Peck as Atti-
cus Finch won an Academy Award; in 1966, Harper Lee was named by then
President Lyndon B. Johnson to the National Council on the Arts; in
2007, she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
country's highest civilian award; she has also received many honorary
degrees; and
WHEREAS, It is with due cause and proper resolve that this Legislative
Body, representing the people of the State of New York, pays just trib-
ute to Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Harper Lee; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Harper Lee upon the occasion of her designation for special recog-
nition, lauding her contribution to American literature, and to express
its heartfelt wishes for a very Happy 84th Birthday; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Harper Lee.