LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the life and accomplishments of
Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr., distinguished citizen and devoted member of
his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 3, 1926, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Joseph
Benton Steffy, Jr. of Newburgh, New York, died on Saturday, May 21,
2011, at the age of 85; and
WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Newburgh, New York, Joseph Benton
Steffy, Jr. was the retired owner-dealer of Broadway Buick in Newburgh;
and
WHEREAS, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. attended Normal Park Elementary
School and Northside Junior High in Chattanooga, Tennessee; he graduated
from Baylor High School in Chattanooga in 1944, and then attended the
University of Tennessee in 1944-45, prior to his appointment to the
United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in
the Class of 1949; and
WHEREAS, A veteran of the Korean War, where he was wounded in action
and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr.
returned to West Point after the war to serve as an assistant football
coach under the legendary Head Coach, Colonel Earl "Red" Blaik; and
WHEREAS, An outstanding high school and college athlete, Joseph Benton
Steffy, Jr. played one platoon football; during his career, he played
guard on offense and nose tackle on defense and was also a place-kicker;
while in high school, he also participated in boxing and track; and
WHEREAS, At the University of Tennessee, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. was
a letterman on its undefeated football team that went to the Rose Bowl
in 1944; he also was a member of the track and field team and went to
the SEC championships as Tennessee's one-man team, finishing in third
place; he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1999;
and
WHEREAS, At the U.S. Military Academy, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. was a
three-time varsity letterman and starred on the undefeated national
championship Army teams of 1945 and 1946 coached by Red Blaik; in addi-
tion, in 1947, his senior year, he was the captain of the Army football
team, a first team All-American guard and received the prestigious
Outland Trophy as the nation's most outstanding lineman; he is Army's
only Outland Trophy winner; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. was inducted into the College Foot-
ball Hall of Fame in 1987, as well as into the Army Sports Hall of Fame
in the 2007; his football jersey number 61 was retired by the U.S. Mili-
tary Academy in 2010; and
WHEREAS, A past president of the Powelton Club, Joseph Benton Steffy,
Jr. was an avid golfer and tennis player; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his beloved wife, Ann Brown Steffy, in 2004,
Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr. is survived by his son, Benton Steffy and his
wife, Lia; grandsons, JB, Ryan and Kyle Steffy; sisters, Florence DeGoz-
zaldi and husband, Phil, and Ellen Waggoner and husband, Hal; and by
many nieces and nephews, as well as by his good friend, Louis Brooks;
and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr.
leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and

will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the life and accomplishments of Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr.,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Joseph Benton Steffy, Jr.