LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring The Colarusso Family upon the occasion
of its designation as the recipient of the Columbia County Association's
2010 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of individuals and
organizations which devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor The
Colarusso Family upon the occasion of its designation as the recipient
of the Columbia County Association in New York City's 2010 Distinguished
Citizen of the Year Award at a dinner to be held Thursday, May 13, 2010,
at Gallagher's Steak House in Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, The Colarusso Family and the Colarusso Family of Companies
have distinguished themselves in their industry, in their profession,
and in service to their community and consequently have been designated
as the recipients of this most prestigious award; and
WHEREAS, The Colarusso Family of Companies began in 1912 when Antonio
Colarusso founded A. Colarusso & Son, Inc. in Hudson, New York; the
Colarusso Quarry, Colarusso Blacktop, and Colarusso Sand & Gravel compa-
nies soon followed; and
WHEREAS, Currently the fifth and sixth generations of The Colarusso
Family are involved in the company, with 10 family members actively
taking part in the business; and
WHEREAS, Peter Colarusso, Jr. is the President and Robert Colarusso,
Sr. is the Secretary/Treasurer of ACS, Inc., one of the largest fami-
ly-owned, as well as American-owned, heavy-highway construction, aggre-
gate and blacktop supply companies in the Upper Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, A. Colarusso & Son Inc. (ACS, Inc.), the construction arm of
the business, has been building and rebuilding roads and bridges within
a 100-mile radius of Hudson for the past 100 years; the other Colarusso
Family of Companies provide New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) approved aggregate and blacktop to local contractors and muni-
cipalities throughout Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer, Orange,
Putnam and Westchester counties; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, ACS, Inc. has worked on just about every
major highway in Columbia County, including the transformation of the
streets in the City of Hudson from dirt to concrete by company founder
Antonio Colarusso from 1912 to 1922; and
WHEREAS, Some of its recently completed noteworthy projects include
the expansion of the Hudson City School District, the Widewaters Green-
port shopping plaza's road widening and curb, sidewalk and parking lot
construction, and the Village of Chatham Reconstruction Project; and
WHEREAS, ACS, Inc. is proud to be one of Columbia County's largest
employers, providing jobs to more than 150 full-time and seasonal
employees; in addition to providing the quality and safe work environ-
ment which has earned the company numerous industry safety awards, the
company provides a 100 percent company paid benefit package, which
includes health insurance for single people as well as families, all of
which contribute to the 90 percent employee retention rate the company
enjoys; and
WHEREAS, The Colarusso Family and ACS, Inc. realize and appreciate how
their company's history and future are uniquely woven into the lives of
the people and places of Columbia County, which is why, through all the
years and all of the company's major projects, the most important

contribution the Colarusso Family of Companies has made is to the local
and Upper Hudson Valley community; and
WHEREAS, From the beginning ACS, Inc. and The Colarusso Family have
been deeply involved in supporting such organizations and causes as the
Columbia Memorial Hospital, Columbia-Greene Community Hospice, The
Hudson Area Library, Flag Day, the Greenport Town Park Concert Series,
Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mac-Hayden
Theater, Upstage Productions and many other civic, non-profit and commu-
nity organizations, applying the same strong management skills and
robust ethic they apply to their undeniably successful businesses to
their efforts on behalf of these worthy community endeavors; and
WHEREAS, The members of The Colarusso Family 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, As a company and as a family, the Colarusso's are very proud
to call Columbia County home; they look forward to and have committed
themselves to providing the same top quality construction materials,
precision engineered construction projects, quality jobs, and community
based philanthropy in the future as they have in the past; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, intellect and commitment as that demonstrated by The
Colarusso Family over nearly a century of professional distinction and
of sacrifice and dedication to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those individ-
uals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor The Colarusso Family upon the occasion of its designation as the
recipient of the Columbia County Association's 2010 Distinguished Citi-
zen of the Year Award on May 13, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Peter Colarusso, Jr. and Robert Colarusso, Sr.