Senate Resolution No. 1308

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Chris Thomas upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Excellence in
Community Service Award by the University at Albany
Alumni Association

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of individuals such as Chris Thomas who uphold the values of
community life and who, through their great actions, epitomize the best
of humanity; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Chris Thomas
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Excellence in
Community Service Award by the University at Albany Alumni Association
to be celebrated with a Gala on May 4, 2019, at Wolfert's Roost, Albany,
New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious award pays tribute to University at Albany
(UAlbany) alumni for time volunteered which benefits a community or its
non-profit institutions; and

WHEREAS, Chris Thomas graduated magna cum laude from the University
at Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with honors in 1986; he
went on to earn a J.D. from University at Buffalo School of Law, where
he served as a public interest fellow; and

WHEREAS, In his role as Counsel at Nixon Peabody in Rochester, New
York, Chris Thomas represents individuals, corporations and non-profits
such as universities as well as utility, construction and pharmaceutical
companies; and

WHEREAS, Chris Thomas also works on behalf of newspapers and
television stations, including defense of defamation claims, public
access to courtrooms and access to official documents, and has
represented entities such as NBC and comedian Jay Leno; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, he recently was appointed to the first class
of certified federal court mediators in the Western District of New
York; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Chris Thomas served as an
assistant public defender in Monroe County and as a staff attorney at
North Country Legal Services in Plattsburgh; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to his
community, Chris Thomas devotes much of his time to LawNY, a
not-for-profit provider of civil legal services to people of low income
in Western New York; he began serving this vital organization in 2010,
and has since aided in the successful implementation of its strategic
plan and restructuring of program management; and

WHEREAS, Chris Thomas has served on the WXXI Public Broadcasting
Council Board of Trustees since 2015; he also chairs its government

relations committee and is a member of its executive committee,
representing the station in the community; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Chris Thomas provides countless hours of pro
bono services for clients who cannot afford representation; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Chris Thomas has displayed
throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Chris Thomas, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Chris Thomas upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Excellence in Community Service Award by the University at Albany
Alumni Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chris Thomas.