LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Larry Thomas upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Men at Work Award from the SULLIVAN
COUNTY DEMOCRAT

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, Larry Thomas 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 honor Larry Thomas
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Men at Work
Award from the SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT; and
WHEREAS, Larry Thomas became the District Superintendent of Sullivan
County BOCES on February 1, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Counting the students in the county's eight public school
districts and those in the BOCES Special Education/Alternative Education
program, there are approximately 10,500 kids overseen by Larry Thomas
and his staff; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Laurens High School near Oneonta, Larry Thomas
thought during his teenage years about playing his saxophone in a jazz
band touring the country; and
WHEREAS, But when he went to college, Larry Thomas found his calling
was in the field of education; he studied for two years at SUNY Delhi
and then earned his bachelor's degree at SUNY Oneonta; he did his gradu-
ate work, which included earning a master's degree and a Certificate of
Advanced Studies, at SUNY Cortland while teaching English at the junior
high school and high school levels; and
WHEREAS, Larry Thomas spent the next several years teaching English at
junior high schools and high schools in the Cortland area; and
WHEREAS, After 15 years teaching students in the eighth grade, Larry
Thomas decided to become an administrator; he served as the
Junior/Senior High School Principal for a Regional Summer School at
Tompkins Cortland Community College; he then spent one year as the
Director of Special Education at Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES; and
WHEREAS, Larry Thomas then moved to the Marathon Central School
District; from 1988 to 1992, he was the Assistant High School Principal
and the District Director of Instructional Programs; and
WHEREAS, From 1997 to 2005, Larry Thomas was the Principal of the
Appleby Elementary School in the Marathon Central School District; and
WHEREAS, For the five years prior to being hired as the Sullivan Coun-
ty BOCES District Superintendent, Larry Thomas was employed as the
Superintendent of Schools for the Otselic Valley Central School
District, Chenango County; and
WHEREAS, Larry Thomas has been called upon to contribute his time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Larry Thomas has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Maria, and their four
children, Devon, Evan, Tara and Shira, as well as three grandchildren,
all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Larry Thomas has displayed through-
out his life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Larry Thomas upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Men at Work Award from the SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Larry Thomas, 6 Wierk Avenue, Liberty, New York.