Senate Resolution No. 1757

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of Mateflex

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievements of those individuals and businesses that contribute
substantially to the economic vitality of their communities, thereby
enhancing economic well-being of the entire Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Mateflex; and

WHEREAS, Since 1974, Mateflex has provided quality modular tile
surfaces for an ever-growing list of applications; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Edward Mele, an avid tennis player of over thirty
years, was investigating available tennis court surface styles for use
on two of his private, personal courts, when, through his research, he
found a product called Mateflex that had been used as a tennis court
surface overlay in many professional tournaments in Europe, and in three
of six Grand Prix Masters tournaments played elsewhere across the globe;
and

WHEREAS, In 1973, the Grand Prix Masters final was played on
Mateflex in Boston, Massachusetts, and Edward Mele finally had the
opportunity to try the Mateflex Classic tennis surface in person for the
first time; and

WHEREAS, After giving the material its initial test run, Edward Mele
immediately purchased two brand new courts, and was so impressed by the
material that he began to consider the product as an option for one of
his personal business ventures, a plastic manufacturing plant based in
Utica, New York; and

WHEREAS, Edward Mele, along with his brother Joseph Mele, an equally
successful and aggressive business partner in his own right, ultimately
acquired the permission to manufacture Mateflex in the United States,
forming the Mateflex-Mele Corporation in 1974; and

WHEREAS, Since 1986, Mateflex has been developing their products and
technologies, introducing Mateflex II, Mateflex III, SoftFlex, TileFlex,
and CarpetFlex, ProGym and HomeCourt tiles, ProGym Plank, and TopCourt
tile, which, most recently, is taking the pickleball world by storm; and

WHEREAS, From humble beginnings with just a single tile design
strictly for tennis courts, Mateflex now has multiple product lines
supporting limitless applications today; and

WHEREAS, The success of Mateflex is in direct correlation to the
efforts of its hardworking and dedicated staff, all of whom are
considered integral parts of the success of Mateflex; their involvement
is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an
unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in
all endeavors on behalf of the business and the community it serves; and


WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges this exceptional business, its contributions to the local
and state economies, and its vibrant role in improving the quality of
life in its community, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy
the sparkling successes it has experienced thus far; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Mateflex; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Mateflex.