Senate Resolution No. 4335

BY: Senator BONACIC

COMMENDING James H. Ottaway, Jr. upon the occasion
of receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
from the State University of New York at New Paltz
on May 20, 2018

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this Nation, and the
great State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and good
works of those civic-minded community members who dedicate their lives
and careers to the service of others; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend James H. Ottaway, Jr. upon the occasion of receiving an Honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of New York at New
Paltz during its commencement exercises on Sunday, May 20, 2018; and

WHEREAS, This prestigious degree recognizes individuals who
demonstrate exceptional scholarship, service to his or her community,
and achievements in their chosen profession; James H. Ottaway, Jr. is
truly deserving of this award; and

WHEREAS, James H. Ottaway, Jr. is a journalist, newspaper executive,
philanthropist and longtime benefactor of the State University of New
York (SUNY) New Paltz; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, James H.
Ottaway, Jr. earned his degree from Yale University; and

WHEREAS, In 1960, James H. Ottaway, Jr. began his long and
distinguished career as a reporter and Associate Editor at the
News-Times in Danbury, Connecticut; he then assumed the titles of
Chairman and Executive Officer of Ottaway Newspapers, which became the
community newspaper subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company in 1970; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, James H. Ottaway, Jr. was in charge of 20
daily newspapers across the country; from 1987 to April of 2006, he
served as both the Director and Senior Vice President of Dow Jones &
Co., Inc.; he also held the position of President of the International
and Magazine divisions; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, James H. Ottaway, Jr. and his wife Mary
established SUNY New Paltz's first and only endowed professorship in
journalism, named in honor of James' father; the James H. Ottaway, Sr.
Visiting Professorship has hosted professors every spring, providing
hundreds of students with the opportunity to study and work alongside
Pulitzer, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalists; and

WHEREAS, James H. Ottaway, Jr. and his wife have also donated their
time and energy to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz;
through their efforts, the Museum has featured many interesting
exhibitions and has turned into a premier tourist attraction for Hudson
Valley art and artists; and

WHEREAS, In addition, this generous couple supports the Mohonk
Preserve, the Wallkill Valley Land Trust, Phillies Bridge Farm, Bard
College, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the World Press
Freedom Committee, Doctors Without Borders, and Human Rights Watch, as
well as Words Without Borders.org; and

WHEREAS, James H. Ottaway, Jr., throughout his purposeful life, has
served his community with integrity and devotion, continuously striving
to meet the needs of his community through entertainment and
enlightenment; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend James H. Ottaway, Jr. upon the occasion of receiving an Honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters from SUNY New Paltz on May 20, 2018; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to James H. Ottaway, Jr.