LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Dr. Richard D. Trent, inau-
gural President of Medgar Evers College, 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, Dr. Richard Darrell Trent of Brooklyn, New York, died on
Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Born on November 23, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan, Richard D.
Trent was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Michigan State University where
he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and a Master's and
Doctoral degrees from Columbia University in Social Psychology; and
WHEREAS, Richard D. Trent also served his country as a member of the
United States Armed Forces during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent distinguished himself in his profession
and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Following graduation from Columbia in 1955, he served as
Senior Research Scientist at Warwick School of Warwick, New York; Dr.
Richard D. Trent was eminently successful as the Director of Research
for the Puerto Rican Institute of Psychiatry in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
and as Principal Research Officer for the National Institute of Health
and Medical Research for the Ghana Academy of Sciences in Accra, Ghana;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent was the founding President of Medgar
Evers College of The City University of New York, in Brooklyn, New York,
assuming his duties on March 1, 1970 until 1982; he then retired as
Professor Emeritus in 1992; and
WHEREAS, President Richard D. Trent never overlooked the importance of
involving the community in the life of Medgar Evers College; he selected
the 28 member Community Council, the first Council of its kind in the
United States, signing its Certificate of Incorporation on February 9,
1972; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent became the College's first President
following a distinguished career as an outstanding professor, eminent
writer, international researcher, and the founder and managing editor of
an international interdisciplinary professional journal with offices in
Africa and London; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding educator successfully administered the first
Educational Opportunity Program at Brooklyn College where he was popular
with the students and deeply respected by his colleagues; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent is the author of 29 scholarly publica-
tions in professional journals such as CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PSYCHIATRIC
QUARTERLY, GHANA MEDICAL JOURNAL, and the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF
PSYCHIATRY; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent served as a consultant to the Minneapo-
lis Public School System and as a Master of the United States Southern
District Federal Court on Education; he was also a member of the Board
of Directors of the New York Urban League; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard D. Trent is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and
their three children, Giselle, Stephen, and Bradley; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Dr. Richard D. Trent 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
mourn the death of Dr. Richard D. Trent, inaugural President of Medgar
Evers College, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his communi-
ty; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Richard D. Trent.