LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Patricia Beck upon the occasion of her
retirement after more than 17 years of distinguished service as Publish-
er of THE LEADER-HERALD

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have devoted
themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their community
and the needs of its residents; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Patricia "Pat" Beck upon the occasion of her retirement after more than
17 years of distinguished service as Publisher of THE LEADER-HERALD to
be celebrated with a party on April 13, 2014; she will officially retire
on March 31, 2014; and
WHEREAS, In 1990, Patricia Beck was hired by Ogden Newspapers adver-
tising director of THE LEADER-HERALD, and was named publisher on Decem-
ber 1, 1996; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Beck's career in journalism actually began with
broadcasting; she worked for local radio stations WMVQ and WKOL in the
early 1980s and was approached by then-RECORDER Publisher Charlie Miller
to join the newspaper as a talk-show host; she worked at THE RECORDER
for about 12 years, leaving as advertising director; and
WHEREAS, A native of Mayfield, New York, Patricia Beck has accom-
plished a more than 30-year career in journalism and communications,
first working at THE RECORDER newspaper in Amsterdam, New York, and then
at THE LEADER-HERALD, Gloversville, New York; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Beck, who resides in Amsterdam, attended Fulton-
Montgomery Community College for secretarial science in 1968; she was
the first president of the New York State Advertising Executives and one
of the first female presidents of the New York State Publisher's Associ-
ation, which is now called the New York News Publishers Association; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Patricia Beck serves on the board of directors of
the publishers group, in the past, has served with many regional civic
and community groups; and
WHEREAS, A strong supporter of good community journalism and the First
Amendment, Patricia Beck was responsible for overseeing a newspaper
which publishes 364 days a year and has a multimillion-dollar commercial
printing operation; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Beck believes in giving back to the community she
loves; she has been involved in her community for the past 24 years
serving on the board of directors of the former Montgomery County Cham-
ber of Commerce and United Way of Montgomery County, director for the
Foundation of the former Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce &
Industry, member of Soroptimist International Fulton County, member of
St. John's Episcopal Church Vestry, president of the Gloversville BID,
and president of the Gloversville Economic Development Corp.; and
WHEREAS, She has been a past board president of the Mental Health
Association in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, Family Counseling Center
and Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and is a director emeritus of the Fulton
County United Way; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Patricia Beck has served as chairwoman of the
former Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Montgomery
County Chamber of Commerce and Fulton-Montgomery Community College Foun-
dation; and
WHEREAS, Patricia Beck has been the recipient of numerous awards and
accolades, including: the Fulton County Executive of the Year Award, the
Founder's Day Award by the Gloversville Central Council Parent Teacher

Association, the Soroptimist Woman of Distinction, a Certificate of
Merit for Women's History, and the Juliette Low Women of Distinction
honor from Mohawk Pathways Council Inc.; and
WHEREAS, For more than 17 years, Patricia Beck rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to THE LEADER-HERALD and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as Publisher, Patricia Beck served with
loyalty, honor and distinction, governed by a keen sense of duty and
always showed a unique grasp of human problems; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure with THE LEADER-HERALD, Patricia Beck
earned the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Skip, and their
two children, as well as two granddaughters, Grace and Camryn, all of
whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, 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 Patricia Beck upon the occasion of her retirement after more than
17 years of distinguished service; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Patricia Beck.