Senate Resolution No. 2973

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMENDING James T. Callahan upon the occasion of
his designation as Grand Marshal of the 2020 New
York City St. Patrick's Day Parade

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
individuals of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who work
diligently to preserve and celebrate their rich cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend James T. Callahan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand
Marshal of the 2020 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and

WHEREAS, In acknowledgment of this most prestigious appointment,
James T. Callahan will have the honor of leading the 259th consecutive
New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Tuesday, March
17, 2020; and

WHEREAS, James T. Callahan is the General President of the
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), a diversified trade
union which represents 400,000 operating engineers working as heavy
equipment operators, mechanics and surveyors in the construction
industry, and stationary engineers, who work in operations and
maintenance in building and industrial complexes; and

WHEREAS, He was re-elected to a second term as General President at
the 39th General Convention on May 6, 2018; and

WHEREAS, A 39-year member and third generation operating engineer,
James T. Callahan moved up the union's ranks from member to Shop
Steward, Foreman, Trustee, and Business Representative to ultimately
lead Local 15 in New York City as its 4th President and Business Manager
in 2003; and

WHEREAS, James T. Callahan began his illustrious career as an
operating engineer in 1980; proficient in all mechanical aspects of
maintenance and repair, he was initiated as a shop mechanic in Local
15C; by 1993, he had worked his way up to maintenance foreman and was an
integral part of the team that worked on the World Trade Center site in
the aftermath of the terrorist bombing of the parking garage that killed
and injured dozens of people; and

WHEREAS, Eight years later, as a local union Business Agent, James
T. Callahan found himself back at the World Trade Center; this time, he
was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the
September 11th tragedy and he stayed on to work through the entire
recovery effort at Ground Zero; and

WHEREAS, James T. Callahan was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive
Board in March of 2012, and serves on the AFL-CIO Executive Committee;
in addition, he is a member of the Governing Board of Presidents for
North America's Building Trades Unions; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend James T. Callahan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand
Marshal of the 2020 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to James T. Callahan.