LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Paul Grondahl upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 2016 Media Award by the Turkish Cultural
Center Albany

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the causes of peace and understanding, building
bridges between cultures for the benefit of us all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Paul Grondahl upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
2016 Media Award by the Turkish Cultural Center Albany to be celebrated
at its 5th Annual Friendship Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday,
April 19, 2016, at the Wolferts Roost Country Club in Albany, New York;
and
WHEREAS, The Turkish Cultural Center Albany (TCCA) is a non-profit
organization devoted to promoting peace and understanding among people
from diverse cultural backgrounds in New York's Capital Region; and
WHEREAS, The TCCA's 5th Annual Friendship Dinner and Award Ceremony is
an expression of friendship with an ultimate goal of building bridges of
understanding, peace and harmony among diverse communities; it also
recognizes individuals and organizations for making differences in their
communities by promoting social cohesion; and
WHEREAS, Paul Grondahl is receiving the TCCA Media Award in recogni-
tion of his outstanding contributions to increasing awareness of the
ongoing global refugee crisis; and
WHEREAS, An award-winning journalist and author, Paul Grondahl earned
his Bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Puget
Sound in Tacoma, Washington, and completed his Master's degree in
English literature from the University at Albany; and
WHEREAS, Since 1984, Paul Grondahl has ably served the citizens of his
community as a staff writer for the Albany TIMES UNION; and
WHEREAS, During his illustrious tenure, this esteemed newsman's
assignments have taken him across the world; he has covered stories from
the Arctic to Antarctica, and travelled to such places as Northern
Ireland, Africa and Haiti; and
WHEREAS, During his illustrious career, Paul has won a number of jour-
nalism awards for his in-depth reporting, including the Society of
Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award, the Scripps Howard
National Journalism Award, and more than a dozen New York State Associ-
ated Press writing contest awards, as well as the Hearst Eagle Award,
the highest recognition for a reporter in the Hearst Corp.; and
WHEREAS, Paul Grondahl is also the author of five books, including two
acclaimed biographies of Theodore Roosevelt and Mayor Erastus Corning,
and has been featured on C-SPAN's "About Books" and "Book TV"; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous honors for his writing, Paul Gron-
dahl was named the 1997 Albany Author of the Year by the Albany Public
Library and the 2004 Notable Author of the Year by both the Guilderland
Public Library and East Greenbush Public Library; he was also named a
2005 Distinguished Alumnus in Arts and Letters by the University at
Albany; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Paul Grondahl has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Mary, and their two
children, Sam and Caroline, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of
his life and rejoice in his achievements; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Paul Grondahl has displayed through-
out his life; 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, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Paul Grondahl upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the 2016 Media Award by the Turkish Cultural Center Albany; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Paul Grondahl.