LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dick Waterman upon the occasion of his
induction into the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those esteemed individuals from the State of New York who
faithfully devoted their purposeful energies to the sport of stock car
racing; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dick
Waterman upon the occasion of his induction into the New York State
Stock Car Association Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Along with partner Bernie Ingersoll, a retired local racer,
Dick Waterman bought the Utica-Rome Speedway from Joe Lesik, who built
the speedway just outside the Village of Vernon, New York in 1961; and
WHEREAS, A paved quarter-mile, Dick Waterman would later enlarge
Utica-Rome Speedway slightly but it remained tight and anyone who won a
NASCAR feature there had to handle constant lapped traffic as well as
his pursuers; and
WHEREAS, His genius was in creating a Sunday night battle between New
York favorites and invading New Englanders, with his overhead late model
class sending a constant stream of local talent to the "A" class, which
for a while combined sportsman and modifieds and then became strictly
modifieds; and
WHEREAS, The cast at Utica-Rome Speedway constantly changed but it was
not unusual to see Bill Wimble, Jerry Cook, Richie Evans, Lou Lazzaro,
Sonney Seamon, Kenny Shoemaker, Lou Smith, Frank Mathalia, Dick Clark,
Bernie Miller, Dick Fowler, Dave Lape, Bill Henry and the Kotary clan
defending their turf against such noted invaders as Rene Charland, Eddie
Flemke, Bugsy Stevens, Freddy DeSarro, Fats Caruso, Pete Hamilton, Don
McTavish, Ronnie Narducci and Bobby Santos; and
WHEREAS, To assure his fans saw the best possible show, Dick Waterman
would hold the feature until a handful of point chasers made the mad
dash from the Thompson, Connecticut afternoon show to join the field;
and
WHEREAS, The biggest promotion Dick Waterman ran at Utica-Rome Speed-
way each season was the New Yorker 400, run the night before Labor Day,
attracting point chasers from the south such as Joe Thruman, even more
New Englanders and a huge crowd to watch the non-stop action; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Dick Waterman sold the speedway and adjacent drag
strip, with the new owners converting it to dirt; he remains a racing
fan and still attends Sprint Cup events at Bristol and Pocono each year;
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
honor Dick Waterman upon the occasion of his induction into the New York
State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dick Waterman.