LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring James W. Bennett, Esq. upon the occasion
of his designation as recipient of the 2014 Lifetime Achiever of the
Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce, on February 27, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
James W. Bennett, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the 2014 Lifetime Achiever of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber
of Commerce; this auspicious occasion will be celebrated at the Cham-
ber's Annual Awards Dinner, to be held on Thursday, February 27, 2014,
at Samuel's Grande Manor, Williamsville, New York; and
WHEREAS, James W. Bennett, Esq. was born in Western New York; after
graduating from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, he served over-
seas in the United States Army for two years, achieving the rank of
Captain and receiving the Army Commendation Medal; and
WHEREAS, James W. Bennett is a founding partner and senior partner in
the Bennett Schechter Arcuri & Will LLP law firm, practicing in the
corporate and commercial field; for the last several years he has been
listed in the Upstate New York Super Lawyers publication and has the
highest rating provided by the Martindale Hubbell lawyer rating; and
WHEREAS, James W. Bennett moved to Clarence in 1982 and has been
active in Clarence and throughout the entire Western New York community
ever since in a wide variety of organizations and capacities; and
WHEREAS, A director of the Clarence Chamber of Commerce for the past
several years, James W. Bennett chairs its Business Roundtable and the
Legislative/Governance programs; he also sits on the Advisory Board of
the Clarence High School Academy of Business and Finance; and
WHEREAS, For more than thirty-five years, he has been a member of
Lions Club International, holding virtually every local office, and
receiving the prestigious Robert Uplinger Distinguished Services Award
for his work; in addition, he served two terms as President of
Clarence's Brookfield Country Club, and was a director as well; and
WHEREAS, James W. Bennett coached in the Clarence Girls Softball Leag-
ue for more than twenty years while also serving as a director of the
league; he served on a committee to pursue the recreational use of the
"Thunderbird" Girl Scout camp and, during that time, negotiated the
purchase of land that was turned over to the town and now houses the
Clarence Nature Center; he also served for more than twelve years as a
director of the Pro-Zoo Board for the Buffalo Zoo; and
WHEREAS, Finally, James W. Bennett is one of the founders of Family
Promise of WNY, a homeless shelter involving churches of all denomi-
nations, serving as its President, as well as a Trustee for the twenty
years of its Buffalo location; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his professional and communi-
ty service, a period of constructive involvement, James W. Bennett has
stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has earned the
respect and admiration of his colleagues, family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which James W. Bennett has displayed
throughout his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor James W. Bennett, Esq. upon the occasion of his designation as

recipient of the 2014 Lifetime Achiever of the Year Award by the
Clarence Chamber of Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James W. Bennett, Esq.