LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Joel I. Klein upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Lew Rudin Founders Award by the ABNY
Foundation on March 31, 2011

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its
history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educa-
tional professionals and the students they inspire; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant accomplishments of those outstanding educational leaders,
whose dedication and achievements have been instrumental in developing
character and academic excellence in the young people of New York State;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Joel I. Klein
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Lew Rudin
Founders Award by the ABNY (Association for a Better New York) Founda-
tion to be celebrated at its Spirit of ABNY Awards Cocktail Reception at
Dos Caminos in New York, on Thursday, March 31, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Born in New York City on October 25, 1946, Joel I. Klein
attended the city's public schools and graduated from William Cullen
Bryant High School; he then received his Bachelor of Arts degree from
Columbia University where he graduated magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa in
1967; and
WHEREAS, Joel I. Klein furthered his education and in 1971, he earned
his J.D. from Harvard Law School, again graduating magna cum laude; and
WHEREAS, As New York City Chancellor for nearly a decade, Joel I.
Klein led a comprehensive reform strategy that brought coherence to the
system and resulted in significant increases in student performance; and
WHEREAS, He oversaw nearly 1,700 schools with 1.1 million students,
and 136,000 employees; formerly United States Chairman and CEO of
Bertelsmann, Inc., he also served as Deputy White House Counsel, joining
the administration after 20 years of public and private legal work in
Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Joel I. Klein's comprehensive reform program, entitled Chil-
dren First, is transforming the troubled public school system; subse-
quently, student performance is rising, there are increasingly more and
better choices for students, schools are safer, and educators are
receiving additional autonomy, while being held accountable for
progress; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his position as Chancellor, from 1997 to 2001, Joel
I. Klein was Assistant Attorney General in charge of the United States
Department of Justice's antitrust division; serving one of the longest
tenures as head of the 700-lawyer division, he led numerous landmark
cases; and
WHEREAS, He began his career as a law clerk, first to Chief Judge
David Bazelon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from
1973 until 1974, and then to Justice Lewis Powell on the United States
Supreme Court from 1974 to 1975; and
WHEREAS, He then worked at a public interest law firm, the Mental
Health Law Project for one year and then for the following five years,
he was an associate and partner at the law firm of Rogovin, Stern & Huge
until 1981; Joel I. Klein joined two colleagues to start their own law
firm, Onek, Klein & Farr, in 1981; and
WHEREAS, Active in his community, Joel I. Klein has volunteered his
time to Big Brothers, and has served as Chairman of the Board of the
Green Door, a pioneer community-based treatment program for mentally ill
residents of the District of Columbia; he was also the Treasurer of the
World Federation for Mental Health and served on several boards of non-

profit organizations such as the National Symphony Orchestra Associ-
ation; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Joel I. Klein has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his loving wife, Nicole Selig-
man, who feels privileged to be a part of his life and rejoices in his
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Joel I. Klein upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Lew Rudin Founders Award by the ABNY Foundation on March 31, 2011;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joel I. Klein.