LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Lou Lewis upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Bernard Handel Community Leadership
Award by the Dutchess Community College Foundation

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 reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citi-
zenry; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Lou Lewis upon
the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Bernard Handel
Community Leadership Award by the Dutchess Community College Foundation,
to be celebrated on Saturday, March 26, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Poughkeepsie High School Class of 1958, Lou
Lewis studied physics at Clarkson College and graduated from Marist
College with a degree in English Literature; he attended and graduated
from law school at New York University, New York City, and returned to
practice law in his hometown of Poughkeepsie, later forming the firm,
Lewis and Greer, P.C.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Lewis has been deeply involved in the Poughkeepsie commu-
nity for the last 40 years; he served for 20 years on the Board of Trus-
tees of Marist College and for 25 years as Vice-President of the Barda-
von 1869 Opera House; and
WHEREAS, Lou Lewis has also been President of Dutchess County Land-
marks, President of the Amrita Club, President of the Dutchess County
Bar Association, President of the Poughkeepsie Rotary, and a member of
the City of Poughkeepsie Historic District; he is also affiliated with
the board of the Dutchess County Historical Society, the board of
Planned Parenthood, the board of The Majority for Choice, and the board
of the Jewish Federation; and
WHEREAS, For many years, Lou Lewis hosted a Trivia Contest to raise
donations for the Association of Senior Citizens; he was instrumental in
merging the Poughkeepsie Squash Club with The Poughkeepsie Tennis Club
and is an active squash and tennis player; he also merged the Hebrew
Benevolent Society with Vassar Temple so as to obtain more burial space
for Vassar Temple and is a co-founder of The Hudson Institute for Renew-
able Energy; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Mr. Lewis founded what would become the law firm of
Lewis and Greer, P.C.; he has spent most of his professional career
working in the area of real property taxation; he was lead counsel in
defending the property tax litigations surrounding the Shoreham Nuclear
Power Plant and spent 220 days trying that case in Riverhead, New York;
and
WHEREAS, Lou Lewis has written and lectured on special problems in
property valuation, valuing generating stations, and the municipaliza-
tion of electric properties; he has been counsel to many local not-for-
profits, including The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Locust Grove, and Walk-
way Over the Hudson; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Candace, and their
children, Amanda, Elizabeth, and Charlotte, as well as their grandchil-
dren, William, Annabel, Lillian, Andrew and Claire, all of whom feel
privileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence 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 Lou Lewis upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Bernard Handel Community Leadership Award by the Dutchess Community
College Foundation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Lou Lewis.