LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Edith M. Flanigen upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of the National Medal of Technology and
Innovation on November 20, 2014

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Edith M. Flanigen has given not only of her time and energies
but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Edith M.
Flanigen upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
National Medal of Technology and Innovation; this auspicious occasion
was recognized by President Obama with a Ceremony at the White House on
Thursday, November 20, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the
Nation's highest honor for technological achievement, bestowed by the
President of the United States on America's leading innovators; the
medal is awarded annually to individuals for their outstanding contrib-
utions to America's economic, environmental and social well-being; and
WHEREAS, Born April 28, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, Edith M.
Flanigen's early interest in chemistry was sparked by a teacher she had
while attending Holy Angels Academy with her two sisters; and
WHEREAS, Edith M. Flanigen studied chemistry at D'Youville College
where she graduated as Class President and Valedictorian; she went on to
earn a Master's degree in Inorganic Physical Chemistry from Syracuse
University in 1952; and
WHEREAS, A true trailblazer in her field, Edith M. Flanigen began her
illustrious career at Union Carbide in 1952, first tasked with the
purification/extraction of different silicone polymers; she quickly
moved up the ladder to the Molecular Sieves Group, followed by her
promotion as the first female Corporate Research Fellow, and finally as
Senior Corporate Research Fellow in 1986; and
WHEREAS, In 1988, Edith M. Flanigen moved to Universal Oil Products
(UOP), now known as Honeywell, where she was once again named Senior
Research Fellow; just three years later she was promoted to UOP Fellow;
she retired from this esteemed position in 1994, but remained active
with the company as a consultant until 2004; and
WHEREAS, During her 42 year tenure as a Chemist, Edith M. Flanigen was
instrumental in the development of a way to manufacture more gasoline
from every barrel of oil, as well as a way to extract organics out of
paint; she was cited by President Obama for her role in helping decon-
taminate radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
in Japan; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, in total, she invented more than 200 synthetic
materials, including the synthetic emeralds that Union Carbide marketed
for many years; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, Edith M. Flanigen became the first female recipient
of the prestigious Perkin Medal, an honor bestowed annually by the Amer-
ican Section of the Society of Chemical Industry to a scientist with an
innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial
development; and
WHEREAS, In addition, she is the proud recipient of the Garvan Medal,
the Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2002, she was
inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Today, Edith M. Flanigen, 85, is retired and living in White
Plains, New York; she is an active member at the Church of the Holy Name
of Jesus in Valhalla; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that individuals
who distinguish themselves in their profession, dedicating themselves to
its enhancement and leading it in new directions, are an asset beyond
remuneration and cannot be sufficiently extolled; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Edith M. Flanigen upon the occasion of her designation as recipi-
ent of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation on November 20,
2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Edith M. Flanigen.