LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Patrick J. McGowan upon the occasion of
being named Grand Marshal of the 35th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's
Day Parade, to be held on March 6, 2010

WHEREAS, St. Patrick's Day is a time for people of all nationalities and
generations to assemble and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of
the Irish people throughout these United States; and
WHEREAS, A St. Patrick's Day Parade reflects and records the ongoing
history of the United States and Ireland, and highlights the many
contributions and historical accomplishments of the Irish community in
this diverse land; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Patrick J.
McGowan upon the occasion of being named Grand Marshal of the 35th Annu-
al Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade, to be held on Saturday, March
6, 2010; and
WHEREAS, This year the 35th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day
Parade will, in addition, honor Aine Sheridan and The Honorable Martin
Golden as Honorary Grand Marshals of the parade and The Honorable John
Ingram, Edward Valentine, Patrick Sullivan, Joseph Lynch, Jr., William
Glynn, Maureen O'Malley-Byrnes, Kathleen Clarke, Martin Dunn and Andrew
Healey as Deputy Grand Marshals of the Parade; and
WHEREAS, The eldest of the six children born to Vincent and Bridget
Herbert McGowan of Culleens, County Sligo, Patrick McGowan completed
secondary school at St. Muredach's College in Ballina, County Mayo, in
1981 and decided to explore the opportunities the United States offered;
and
WHEREAS, Patrick McGowan, upon arrival, began working for ICS Build-
ers, Inc., a contracting company owned by his uncle, Patrick Herbert;
while working diligently as a laborer for ICS Builders, he attended New
Jersey Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Construction Engineering and where, as a proud alumnus, he now
serves as President of the Board of Overseers; and
WHEREAS, Within a number of hard working years, he rose from laborer
to salesperson to executive vice president, all the while establishing
relationships, making connections with everyone he came in contact with,
and signaling the success he would enjoy in the future; and
WHEREAS, Patrick McGowan's education, coupled with 20 years of experi-
ence in the construction industry, enabled him to establish his own
company in 2001, McGowan Builders, Inc., a general
contracting/construction management firm headquartered in East Ruther-
ford, New Jersey, with offices in New York City, Long Island, and Flori-
da; and
WHEREAS, Though a proud and contributing resident of the United
States, Patrick McGowan continues to demonstrate and reinforce his love
and respect for his homeland through his annual visits to family and
friends in Ireland and, despite his many professional responsibilities,
he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf and manages to
make time for that and to work on behalf of a multitude of charitable
organizations, including The Loretta McGowan Foundation, which he and
his two brothers, Martin and Thomas, established in 2007 in honor of
their beloved Aunt Loretta to support numerous facilities and to foster
education and research on Down Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, With Patrick McGowan throughout have been his wife, Patricia,
and their four daughters, Meghan, Niamh, Emma and Sarah, all of whom are
proud to be part of his life and rejoice in his many accomplishments;
and

WHEREAS, Patrick J. McGowan truly embodies the spirit and the cher-
ished ideals and values of Irish-Americans of this great State and
nation; 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
honor Patrick J. McGowan upon the occasion of his designation as Grand
Marshal of the 35th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade, to be
held on March 6, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Patrick J. McGowan.