Assembly Resolution No. 594

BY: M. of A. Cusick

COMMENDING James T. Callahan upon the occasion of
his designation as Grand Marshal of the 2022 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 2022 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 261st consecutive
New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on Thursday,
March 17, 2022; and

WHEREAS, James T. Callahan serves as the General President of the
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE); he was elected to a
full term at the 38th General Convention on April 28, 2013, after
fulfilling the term of retired General President Vincent J. Giblin; and

WHEREAS, Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the IUOE represents
400,000 men and women in the U.S. and Canada who run the heavy
construction equipment to help build both nations, and who also operate
and maintain commercial complexes and buildings, such as schools,
hospitals, offices, powerhouses, sports arenas and the like, in both
countries; and

WHEREAS, IUOE also represents nurses and other health industry
workers, public employees in a wide variety of occupations, and a number
of job classifications in the petrochemical industry; and

WHEREAS, A 33-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; and

WHEREAS, 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 also serves on the AFL-CIO Executive
Committee; in addition, he has been an Executive Board member of the New
York City Building and Construction Trades Council, the New York City
Central Labor Council, and the New York State AFL-CIO; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Fran, and their
three sons, James, Ian and Patrick, 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 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 2022 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.