LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Maung S. Htoo for his great achieve-
ments in the field of academia and commitment to improving his community
through volunteerism and education

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Maung S. Htoo was born in Yenangyaung, Burma, a small
town next to the Irrawaddy River in 1928; he attended Yenangyaung High
School in Burma, where he developed a strong passion for the sciences
and natural environment; and
WHEREAS, Upon completion of high school in 1947, Dr. Htoo attended the
University of Rangoon in Burma for two years and then moved to the
United States to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Maine;
and
WHEREAS, Later, in 1961, he earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York; and
WHEREAS, After achieving a doctorate, Dr. Htoo began his career at IBM
in Endicott, New York, where he published several scholarly articles,
developed a number of patents on photosensitive polymers and co-authored
a book on microelectronic polymers in collaboration with scientists and
engineers from AT&T Bell Laboratories, General Electric, Hewlett-Pack-
ard, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Philips Research Laboratories; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his brilliance and dedication, Dr. Maung
Htoo was elected to be a member of the IBM Academy of Technology in
1990, the highest recognition an IBM scientist and engineer can receive;
and
WHEREAS, In 1992, Dr. Htoo retired from IBM as a member of the Senior
Technical Staff and Manager of Technical Assurance Laboratories after 32
years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his efforts as a leading scientist at IBM, Dr.
Maung Htoo continues to be at the forefront of many community service
and educational programs in the Hudson Valley; and
WHEREAS, Most notably, Dr. Htoo has provided significant leadership
and support for 25 years as the Director of the Dutchess County Science
Fair; in 1980, he was appointed as a judge for the contest, and his
passion for teaching quickly led him to the position of Director; and
WHEREAS, His efforts have made the Dutchess County Science Fair into
the longest running regional science fair in the United States affil-
iated with the International Science and Engineering Science Fair Organ-
ization; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Htoo's charismatic and hands-on leadership is the most
critical attribute of the success of the Dutchess County Science Fair;
he has volunteered nearly 10,000 hours in the past 25 years, and is the
longest serving Director of the Dutchess County Science Fair; and
WHEREAS, He effectively revitalized the Town of LaGrange Conservation
Advisory Council and has served as Chairman of the Council since 2005;
Dr. Maung Htoo continues to be a leader in the area of environmental
preservation for LaGrange and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Htoo is an active member of the New York State Associ-
ation of Conservation Commissions, where he works with scholars, munici-
pal leaders, students and concerned residents across the state to devel-
op open space stewardship plans, advocate for responsible environmental
policy and educate all New Yorkers on natural land preservation; and

WHEREAS, He was the recipient of the 2007 Margery Sachs Service Award
from the Association for his lifelong environmental concern and service;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Htoo has been a longtime fellow of the Poughkeepsie-Ar-
lington Rotary Club, and served as President of the organization;
inspired by his passion for environmental conservation and desire to
help those in need, he went on a Rotary Club mission to South India in
2004 to donate fishing nets to a small village that was tragically
impacted by a large tsunami; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his charitable and courageous efforts, Dr.
Maung Htoo was awarded the Outstanding International Rotarian Award from
the Rotary Club of Mayiladuthurai, South India in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Htoo has gained a wealth of knowledge about our global
environment from his educational trips to South Africa, Australia, Thai-
land, India, Nepal, Mauritius, Peru and the Galapagos Islands that he
has been able to apply to his work with the Town of LaGrange Conserva-
tion Advisory Council and New York State Association of Conservation
Commissions; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Maung Htoo continues to serve as President of Vassar
Brothers Institute where he has worked with colleagues to preserve and
promote useful knowledge in Science, Literature and Art in the community
for the past 19 years; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to impart his wisdom and experience to the youth
of our State, Dr. Htoo passionately served as an adjunct professor of
Chemistry and Physical Science at Dutchess Community College for 30
years; and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement from IBM, Dr. Maung Htoo instructed Chem-
istry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, for five
years, served as a part-time instructor of Chemistry at the State
University of New York at New Paltz for six years and continues to teach
Chemistry at Marist College; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his countless hours of volunteerism and
efforts to educate others in the community in the area of Science, Tech-
nology, Engineering and Mathematics, Dr. Htoo was awarded the 300 Milli-
meter Semiconductor Wafer Award in 2013 by IBM Systems & Technology
Group in East Fishkill; and
WHEREAS, More recently, Dr. Maung Htoo was given the United States of
America President's Volunteer Service Award by the Corporation for
National Service for volunteering over 500 hours annually for seven
consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, Today, Dr. Htoo resides in LaGrange, New York, with his wife,
Anne; they are the proud parents of Susan Htoo, Esq., Nancy Rathbun,
.SO DOC A R727 RESO TEXT 2015
Rhonda Htoo and Naomi Htoo-Mosher, and the loving grandparents of
Matthew Mosher, Daniel Htoo-Levine and Mya Mosher; and
WHEREAS, Individuals such as Dr. Maung Htoo, devoted to improving the
quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and
self-worth, are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Maung S. Htoo for his great achievements in the field of
academia and commitment to improving his community through volunteerism
and education; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Maung S. Htoo.