LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of care-
taker, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Oseola McCarty, 1908-1999

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to celebrate March as
Women's History Month in the State of New York; it is a time to honor,
reflect on and pay tribute to the women of our Nation for their signif-
icant contributions and dedication to fighting for equality for all
women; and
WHEREAS, The efforts and accomplishments of African-American women are
all too often overlooked and the need to recognize their commitment is
worthwhile, meaningful and long overdue; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the life
and accomplishments of caretaker, businesswoman, and philanthropist,
Oseola McCarty, 1908-1999; and
WHEREAS, Oseola McCarty was born in Wayne County, Mississippi, and
moved to Hattiesburg as a child; while in the sixth grade, her aunt was
hospitalized and later needed homecare, so Oseola McCarty quit school,
never to return; she would later become a washerwoman, a trade she would
continue until arthritis forced her to quit in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Never owning a car, Oseola McCarty walked everywhere she
went, pushing a shopping cart nearly a mile to get groceries; in 1947,
her uncle gave her the house in which she lived until her death; and
WHEREAS, Even before dropping out of school, Oseola McCarty was taught
to save money by her mother; she opened her first savings account at
First Mississippi National Bank, and over the years opened several other
accounts at various area banks; and
WHEREAS, Over time, the bank personnel noticed McCarty's accumulated
savings, and began to assist her in future estate planning, as well as
being unofficial guardians for her, with the assistance of a local
attorney for whom she had done laundry, and the bank's trust officer,
using slips of paper and dimes to represent 10% shares; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, at the age of 87, Oseola McCarty set out the future
distribution of her estate; she set aside one dime (10%) for her church,
one dime (10%) each for three relatives, and the remaining six dimes
(60%) for the University of Southern Mississippi; she stipulated that
the funds should be used for students, preferably those of African-Amer-
ican descent, who could not otherwise attend due to financial hardship;
she remains the school's most famous benefactor; and
WHEREAS, When news of Oseola McCarty's plan was made public, local
leaders immediately funded an endowment in her honor; she signed an
irrevocable trust, allowing the bank to manage her funds, from which she
received a regular check; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Oseola McCarty was awarded an honorary degree from
the University of Southern Mississippi, the first such degree awarded by
the university; she received scores of awards and other honors recogniz-
ing her unselfish spirit, and President Bill Clinton presented her with
a Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second highest civilian
award, during a special White House Ceremony; and
WHEREAS, Oseola McCarty also won the United Nations' coveted Avicenna
Medal for educational commitment; in June of 1996, Harvard University
also awarded her an honorary doctorate; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that Women's History
Month is a highly felicitous time to recognize and honor women of great-
ness; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of caretaker, businesswoman, and
philanthropist, Oseola McCarty, 1908-1999.