LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring John Spear upon the occasion of receiv-
ing the 2009 Caritas Award from the Catholic Charities Community
Services of Orange County on March 24, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor John
Spear upon the occasion of receiving the 2009 Caritas Award from the
Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County at its 3rd Annual
Celebration of Charity to be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at
Anthony's Pier 9, New Windsor, New York; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular distinction, John Spear serves as an
extraordinary example of one who demonstrates a deep respect for the
dignity of every individual by serving the basic needs of the most
vulnerable in our midst and by significantly contributing to the build-
ing of a compassionate and just society; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1940, in Pennsville, New Jersey, John Spear moved
with his parents to Washingtonville, New York, in 1946, when they
purchased the Harrison Press which was later renamed Spear Printing; and
WHEREAS, John Spear graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technol-
ogy with a Bachelor's degree in Printing Management; he has spent his
entire career proudly working at Spear Printing, a leader in modern
printing technology; and
WHEREAS, Passionate about basketball, John Spear started CYO basket-
ball at St. Mary's Church in Washingtonville, New York, in 1953; he
served as both a player and coach in the first year and the team went
0-8; however, just two years later, he went on to coach his first county
championship team in the 85-pound league; and
WHEREAS, While in college, John Spear continued to stay active in CYO
Basketball where he coached a team for Immaculate Conception, his parish
while away at school; and
WHEREAS, The growth of the program during the late 1960s corresponded
with a housing boom in the area which brought in a lot of children from
New York City; due to this influx of children, it became more and more
difficult to obtain school gym time; John Spear could see that it was
time to construct a home for the CYO league; and
WHEREAS, The successful construction would become a community effort
led by John Spear; his parents donated the land, Ed Lyons' construction
company contributed significantly to the actual building of the gym as
well as the countless hours of volunteer labor donated from community
members; and
WHEREAS, When construction was finished, a glorious building stood
complete with hardwood floors, six baskets including glass backboards
for the main court, bleachers, and a mezzanine area which developed into
a refreshment area with dressing rooms below; and
WHEREAS, The first game was played on November 30, 1974, between St.
Mary's High School Girls and St. Stephen's of Warwick following a bless-
ing of the building by Father Harold Sullivan; and
WHEREAS, The program continued to grow through the years, reaching
over 1,300 children and 140 plus teams in the 1990s; today, after numer-
ous renovations, the gym is still home to its league for boys grades 1-4
and girls grades 1-12 as well as regular CYO teams in all divisions
offered by the Archdiocese; and

WHEREAS, Countless children have entered this gym, many playing organ-
ized sports for the very first time, experiencing what it is to be part
of a team, and having a place to go where they are welcome to play and
be with friends; all this would not have been possible without the exem-
plary leadership and unwavering dedication of John Spear; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Mary, their children,
Michael, Nancy and Eileen, as well as their grandchildren, Christopher,
Joseph, Dylan, Thomas, Kane and Sophia, all of whom feel privileged to
be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, intellect and commitment as that demonstrated by John
Spear over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned our
recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor John Spear upon the occasion of receiving the 2009 Caritas Award
from the Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Spear.