Senate Resolution No. 388

BY: Senator SANDERS

MOURNING the death of Stanley Hill, a pioneering
African-American labor leader, devoted family man
and dedicated member of his community

WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their key
contributions and service on behalf of others; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to mourn publicly
those distinguished citizens who demonstrated great courage and
diligence in providing for the care and welfare of the citizens of their
communities and this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, With feelings of deepest regret, this Legislative Body
records the passing of Stanley W. Hill of Rochdale Village, Queens, who
died on Friday, January 25, 2019, at the age of 82; and

WHEREAS, Stanley Weldon Hill was born to Merton and Anna (Grover)
Hill on September 24, 1936, in the South Bronx, New York, and was raised
on the Lower East Side of Manhattan; after graduating from Central
Commercial High School in Manhattan, he attended Iona College in New
Rochelle, New York, on an athletic scholarship and graduated in 1959;
and

WHEREAS, While playing basketball for the Iona College Gaels,
Stanley Hill experienced racism when the governor of Mississippi ordered
the players of the University of Mississippi not to play against Iona
College because it had black players; the Iona College team walked off
the court in protest; and

WHEREAS, After college, Stanley Hill worked as a welfare caseworker
for the City of New York; in 1965, he joined the picket lines of a
28-day strike by welfare workers demanding collective bargaining rights;
and

WHEREAS, Stanley Hill became the first black executive director of
District Council 37 of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest public employee union in New
York City, in 1987 after succeeding Victor Gotbaum and served until
1999; he became the associate director of District Council 37 in 1981;
he fought for labor rights, fair wages, benefits and job security for
workers; and

WHEREAS, On February 24, 2012, Stanley Hill was honored with the
first ever "Trailblazer Award" by the athletics department at Iona
College in recognition of his role in helping to bring civil liberties
and social awareness to the forefront of American culture; and

WHEREAS, Stanley Hill is survived by his wife, Ruby; his sons, Brett
and Stanley, Jr.; and four grandchildren, Sean, Brandon, Jordan and
Brett, Jr., all of whom will long cherish his memory; now, therefore, be
it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Stanley Hill, a pioneering African-American labor
leader; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Stanley Hill.