Senate Resolution No. 1246

BY: Senator JACOBS

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of Elbers
Landscape Service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievements of those individuals and businesses which substantially
contribute to the economic vitality of their communities and the entire
Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Elbers Landscape Service; and

WHEREAS, In 1891, Henry H. Elbers entered the field of horticulture
in Buffalo, New York; five years later, he was appointed superintendent
of the old Parade Grounds, now Martin Luther King Park; and

WHEREAS, After 18 years of developing a renowned public green space,
Henry Elbers was appointed director of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens;
and

WHEREAS, With 28 years of experience under his belt, Henry Elbers
opened Elbers Landscape Service in 1919; and

WHEREAS, In 1920, he moved the business to its current location on
Main Street in North Buffalo, New York; and

WHEREAS, The Elbers family operated the business until 1980, when
they sold it to James Hornung, Sr., and his wife, Elizabeth; James had
been a member of the Elbers staff since 1972; and

WHEREAS, Today, Elbers Landscape Service is managed by James and
Elizabeth Hornung and their son, James Hornung, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, James Hornung, Sr. served as head groundskeeper at Dunn
Tire Park, Home of the Buffalo Bisons and one of the premier facilities
in minor league baseball, for 16 seasons; in 2003, he became head
groundskeeper for the City of Buffalo Parks Department and, in 2008,
became Erie County Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, a
position he held until 2011; and

WHEREAS, James Hornung, Sr. and James Hornung, Jr. have been called
upon to contribute their time and talents to countless civic and
charitable endeavors and have always given of themselves unstintingly;
and

WHEREAS, James Hornung, Sr. has served as Past President of Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Erie County and its Foundation, Past President
of WNY State Nursery & Landscape Association, and Chair of the Buffalo
Green Fund; and

WHEREAS, Currently, James Hornung, Jr. is serving as Board President
of Dominc Hasek Youth Hockey Organization, Inc. "Hasek Heroes"; as a
member of the City of Buffalo Zoning Board of Appeals and National

Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Trailblazer, and Chair of
the Editorial Committee of Snow Business magazine; and

WHEREAS, Today, both James Hornung, Jr. and James Hornung, Sr. are
members and past Presidents of both the New York State Turfgrass
Association, and the National Association of Landscape Professionals;
and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, they are both members of the Accredited Snow
Contractors Association (ASCA), Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA),
Snow & Ice Management Association (Jr.-past President), and the New York
State Nursery & Landscape Association (Sr.-past Board Member); and

WHEREAS, As Elbers Landscape Service has grown and expanded into
other markets throughout New York State, the Hornung family has remained
committed to the Western New York community with the help of their
dedicated staff; and

WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges this exceptional business and its contributions to the
local and State economies, fully confident that it will continue to
enjoy the sparkling successes it has experienced thus far; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Elbers Landscape Service; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to James Hornung, Sr., Elbers Landscaping Service.