LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III upon
the occasion of a reception in New York City celebrating the conferral
of the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, upon him by Morehouse
College

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable accomplishment and char-
acter whose endeavors have enhanced the lives of others and the quality
of life and education in the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with its time-honored traditions, this Legislative
Body is justly proud to recognize and pay tribute to Dr. Calvin O.
Butts, III, upon the occasion of the reception being held in New York
City on March 2, 2011 in celebration of the conferral upon Dr. Butts of
the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, by Morehouse College of
Atlanta, Georgia, of which he is a proud and distinguished alumnus; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor of New York City's Abyssini-
an Baptist Church, President of the State University of New York College
at Old Westbury, and Chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development
Corporation, which fosters and supports housing and commercial develop-
ment in Harlem, truly merits this high honor; and
WHEREAS, The State University of New York Global Center in New York
City, State University of New York College at Old Westbury and the Old
Westbury College Foundation are among the proud hosts of a reception
being held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the State University of New
York Global Center in celebration of the conferral of the Doctor of
Humane Letters degree upon Dr. Butts by Morehouse College in recognition
of his commitment to and leadership of higher education and of his life-
long dedication to the disadvantaged and the underserved; and
WHEREAS, Such recognition also serves to emphasize how Dr. Butts' work
at SUNY College at Old Westbury continues to embody his belief in the
power of education to transform lives; and
WHEREAS, Calvin Butts was born in New York City in 1949; his father
Calvin O. Butts, II, was a cook and his mother worked in the City's
welfare department; when Calvin was young, the family moved to Queens
where he attended public schools through high school; he graduated from
Flushing High School in 1967 where he was President of the Senior Class;
and
WHEREAS, He spent summers at his grandmothers' homes in rural Georgia
and went on to attend undergraduate college in the South, where he
earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Morehouse College
in Atlanta; while a student at Morehouse, Calvin Butts was initiated
into the Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, a prestigious and historic Afri-
can American fraternity; and
WHEREAS, He then returned to New York, where he earned a Master of
Divinity degree in Church History from Union Theological Seminary and a
Doctor of Ministry degree in Church and Public Policy from Drew Univer-
sity in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, One of a generation of highly educated, activist ministers
who have been active in civil rights, social justice and economic devel-
opment in New York, Reverend Butts went on to have a distinguished
career in the ministry, rising to Senior Pastor of the renowned and
prominent Abyssinian Baptist Church, where he has ably led the large and
influential congregation with a history of community leadership; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1980s, Dr. Butts was one of the early supporters
of the Harlem Week of Prayer and, his support, along with that of other
leaders, helped to mobilize the religious community in support of

programs for AIDS patients and their families as well as for education,
support and prevention of HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Responding to community need, in 1986 Reverend Butts asked
his congregation to come together to rebuild Harlem; since being called
as Senior Pastor, Dr. Butts and the church founded the Abyssinian Devel-
opment Corporation (ADC) in 1989, a non-profit arm of the church which
has contributed to the development of schools, including the first high
school built in Harlem in 50 years, and commercial facilities, as well
as housing, throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, Since 1999, Dr. Butts has served with distinction as Presi-
dent of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, where
he has further strengthened the college's outstanding academic programs
and has gained funding for five new residence halls, a Student Union,
and new academic center, as well as technology enhancement for the
college's classrooms and dormitories; and
WHEREAS, In the truest sense and spirit of commitment and dedication
to quality education, to his faith, to his community and to those in
need, Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III has given his leadership, time and energy
to important societal and educational concerns and merits the recogni-
tion, admiration and appreciation of this Legislative Body and the
people of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III upon the occasion of the reception
being held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the State University of New
York Global Center in New York City in celebration of the conferral of
the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, upon Dr. Butts by More-
house College; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III.