LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating John H. Adams upon the occasion of
his designation as a recipient of the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom

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, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities across New York
State are enhanced by the concerned and dedicated efforts of organiza-
tions and individuals that generously contribute to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, John H. Adams has given not only of his time and energies but
also of his competence, intelligence and leadership, and consequently
has been designated for special recognition by the President of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late John H. Adams upon the occasion of his designation as a recipient
of the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom; and
WHEREAS, On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama named John H.
Adams as one of the 15 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
the Nation's highest civilian honor; and
WHEREAS, The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to individuals
who have made especially meritorious contributions to significant public
or private endeavors; in the words of the President of the United
States, "the outstanding honorees come from a broad range of backgrounds
and have excelled in a broad range of fields; all of them have lived
extraordinary lives that have inspired us, enriched our culture, and
made our country and our world a better place"; and
WHEREAS, John H. Adams co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Coun-
cil in 1970; he served as Executive Director and, later, as President of
the nonprofit environmental advocacy group until 2006; and
WHEREAS, The tenure of John H. Adams at the Natural Resources Defense
Council is unparalleled by the leader of any other environmental organ-
ization; as ROLLING STONE wrote, "If the planet has a lawyer, it's John
Adams"; and
WHEREAS, Prior to co-founding the Natural Resources Defense Council,
John H. Adams worked as an Assistant United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York and for the Center for Law and Social
Policy in Washington, D.C.; in 1972, he joined the adjunct faculty of
New York University's School of Law where he taught Clinical Environ-
mental Law for 26 years; and
WHEREAS, John H. Adams serves as Chairman of the Board of the Open
Space Institute; he is also on the boards of the League of Conservation
Voters, Center for American Progress, Woods Hole Research Center and
Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, John H. Adams has also served on the Pew Oceans
Commission, the President's Council on Sustainable Development and the
Environmental Protection Agency's Common Sense Initiative; he is Chair
of the Board of the Open Space Institute and sits on the boards of
numerous other environmental organizations and has served on govern-
mental advisory committees, including President Clinton's Council for
Sustainable Development; and
WHEREAS, John H. Adams grew up on a farm in Callicoon Center, New
York; he is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A.) and the Duke
University School of Law (LL.B.); and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when an indi-
vidual of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our atten-
tion, he should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate John H. Adams upon the occasion of his designation as a
recipient of the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be trans-
mitted to John H. Adams, 33 Craigie Clair Road, Roscoe, New York 12776.