LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the life and notable career of
Jay Gallagher, distinguished journalist and true public servant

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to the
lives of prominent citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and
purposeful careers served to enhance the reputation of this great Empire
State; and
WHEREAS, Jay Gallagher, the Albany Bureau Chief for Gannett News
Service since 1989, died on Monday, May 24, 2010, at the age of 63; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 30, 1947, to Joseph and Hazel Bromley Gallagher
in Beverly, Massachusetts, Jay Gallagher grew up in nearby Danvers with
his brother, Neil, and his sister, Anne; and
WHEREAS, In high school, Jay was an athlete and an avid Boston sports
teams fan, particularly, the Boston Red Sox; it was in high school he
decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle who worked as
reporters and editors at newspapers in Salem and Lynn, Massachusetts;
and
WHEREAS, He began his journalism career at Colby College in Maine,
where he studied government, and served as sports editor for the COLBY
ECHO; and
WHEREAS, While attending college, Jay Gallagher met the woman who
would become his wife of 40 years, Emily Gallagher; he graduated in
1969, and began a legendary career in journalism when he accepted his
first reporting job with the WALTHAM NEWS TRIBUNE in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, He then went to work for THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL in Rhode
Island before moving to New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, Jay Gallagher went to work for the ROCHESTER TIMES-
UNION, where he first served as an editor and then two years later, took
over the city hall beat; it was here he was known for his tenacious
local government reporting; and
WHEREAS, Ten years later, Jay Gallagher joined New York Capitol
Bureau's Gannett News Service, and after five years, was named Bureau
Chief; and
WHEREAS, In this capacity, Jay Gallagher coordinated State coverage
for Gannett's eight statewide newspapers; he was admired by his
colleagues and those he mentored as well as those he covered for his
journalistic integrity, compassion, good humor, and relentless drive to
cover all things relating to State government, as a form of genuine
public service; and
WHEREAS, At the same time, achieving a balance in his life, Jay and
Emily Gallagher raised two wonderful daughters Janice and Ellen, who
both shared his love of politics and sports; as a family, the Gallaghers
went bike riding, kayaking, and cross-country skiing; furthermore, Jay
never missed his girls' athletic events or the family vacations; and
WHEREAS, Jay Gallagher served as President of the Legislative Corre-
spondents Association in 1993 and portrayed dozens of state officials in
the annual Legislative Correspondents Association's annual lampoon show
during his 25 years in Albany; and
WHEREAS, Jay Gallagher mentored many young journalists and was well
respected among his colleagues and the politicians he questioned year
after year; his writing helped illustrate to the working families across
the State why they should care about government and how the political
actions taken in Albany affected their daily lives; and
WHEREAS, An award winning print reporter, columnist, author, public
television show panelist and statewide public radio program co-host, Jay
Gallagher was recognized for his outstanding coverage of State govern-
ment with numerous awards and accolades such as the 1997 and 2004 Walter

T. Brown Award from the Legislative Correspondents' Association for
outstanding coverage of the New York State Capitol; the 2002 National
Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors Award for wire-service beat
coverage of a state capitol; the New York Newspaper Publisher's Associ-
ation Award for Excellence in 1998 and 2004; and the 1993 New York
Common Cause Award for best commentary; he was also nominated for the
Pulitzer Prize; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Jay Gallagher published a book developed from a
series of in-depth news articles on State government, THE POLITICS OF
DECLINE, which chronicled how political problems have contributed to
economic decline in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Jay Gallagher retired from Gannett News Service but
continued writing and following developments at the Capitol for the
League of Women Voters and a blog hosted by the TIMES UNION of Albany;
he often served as co-host of a public radio show, "The Capitol Press
Room"; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
Jay Gallagher, recognizing his outstanding journalism career, hard-hit-
ting weekly column, his dedication to Gannett News Service, his decades
of covering politics and state government at the Capitol, and his many
professional accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, The family of Jay Gallagher, including his beloved wife,
Emily of Delmar, New York, and his two loving daughters, Janice Gallagh-
er of Ithaca, New York, and Ellen Gallagher of Somerville, Massachu-
setts, as well as the citizens of New York State, have lost an eminent
husband, father, author, journalist, and friend; he will be deeply
missed and truly merits the grateful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the life and notable career of Jay Gallagher, recognizing the
significance of his service to the people of the State of New York, and
expressing its deepest condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Jay Gallagher.