LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending James F. Matthews upon the occasion of
his designation as Grand Marshal of the Huntington Saint Patrick's Day
Parade

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, James F. Matthews has given not only of his time and energies
but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend James
F.Matthews upon the occasion of his designation as Grand Marshal of the
Huntington Saint Patrick's Day Parade; and
WHEREAS, James F. Matthews will be honored as the Grand Marshal of the
Huntington Saint Patrick's Day Parade on Friday, March 6, 2009, at the
Grand Marshal's Ball, to be held at the Huntington Crescent Club in
Huntington, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Babylon, New York, James F. Matthews first
moved to Northport in 1978; he attended St. Joseph's Elementary School
and then St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, where he was a
member of the National Honor Society and recognized as the student who
gave the most to his school; and
WHEREAS, James F. Matthews graduated from Cornell University in 1977
and served as Chairman of a university-wide student program board; after
graduation from Cornell, he attended St. John's University School of
Law, graduating in 1982; at St. John's, he served as President of the
Student Bar Association and won the civil trial competition champion-
ship; and
WHEREAS, Admitted to the practice of law in New York in 1983, James F.
Matthews also gained admission to practice law before all of the United
States federal courts in New York and to the United States Supreme
Court; and
WHEREAS, Beginning his legal career with Cullen and Dykman, LLP, in
Brooklyn and Garden City, New York, James F. Matthews started his own
law firm in 1987; in 1998, he became Huntington Town Attorney; and
WHEREAS, James F. Matthews is Special Counsel to the Huntington Town
Zoning Board of Appeals, and serves as Village Attorney for the Village
of Northport; and
WHEREAS, Honored on numerous occasions for his public service on
behalf of the Town of Huntington, James F. Matthews and his wife of 22
years, Patricia, are the proud parents of three children, Kelsey,
Julianne, and Christopher; devoted to his family, he has been a soccer
coach for all three of his children; and
WHEREAS, James F. and Patricia Matthews are active in Our Lady Queen
of Martyrs Church in Centerport, New York, where James serves on the
Parish Council and the Children's Liturgy Committee; he also gives chil-
dren's homilies at Sunday Mass; and
WHEREAS, In the performance of his duties and responsibilities, James
F. Matthews' ongoing efforts and notable achievements have significant-
ly contributed to the betterment of the quality of life in his communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which James F. Matthews has displayed
throughout his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend James F. Matthews upon the occasion of his designation as Grand
Marshal of the Huntington Saint Patrick's Day Parade; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James F. Matthews, Northport, New York.