Senate Resolution No. 291

BY: Senator STEC

HONORING Dr. John Rugge upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the J. Walter Juckett
Community Service Award by the Adirondack Regional
Chamber of Commerce on March 10, 2023

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, From time to time, this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. John
Rugge upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the J. Walter
Juckett Community Service Award by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of
Commerce to be celebrated at its 34th Annual Dinner on Friday, March 10,
2023, at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, New York; and

WHEREAS, The J. Walter Juckett Award, named in honor of the longtime
chairman of the Sandy Hill Corporation, was created 34 years ago to
recognize and honor a deserving member of the community who has
selflessly gone above and beyond by contributing time and energy to help
others; Dr. John Rugge is one such individual; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1914, the Adirondack Regional Chamber of
Commerce (ARCC) is a 100 percent membership funded organization
representing businesses in New York State's Washington, Warren, Essex
and Northern Saratoga Counties with a mission to serve its members and
business community through advocacy efforts, education opportunities and
the power of connection and collaboration; and

WHEREAS, In 1974, family physician Dr. John Rugge decided to take
some time off from his busy life to finish writing a book about canoeing
in the beautifully inspiring Adirondack Mountains; and

WHEREAS, Dr. John Rugge then accepted a position with the Glens
Falls Hospital to serve as supervising physician at a brand-new health
center in Chestertown, New York, with the intention of practicing for
six months before returning to Albany Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, As it turned out, the call of the mountains and the people
of the region who needed him the most inspired him to stay, and Dr. John
Rugge continued his work of making the area a better place for its
residents to live, work and play; he fulfilled this commitment by
establishing the Hudson Headwaters Health Network which has grown to
include 21 health centers between Saratoga County to the Canadian border
with some 200 medical providers and more than 150,000 patients; and

WHEREAS, Dr. John Rugge furthered his aspirations to make a
difference by serving on 40 government advisory panels, task forces, and

councils, all of which has made Hudson Headwaters a model for others
across the State of New York and the Nation; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. John Rugge served as a senior policy
advisor to government, development of managed care organizations, and
organizer of innovative models of care for the Adirondack North Country
Region; and

WHEREAS, Dr. John Rugge has truly given tirelessly of himself to the
Adirondack Region as a volunteer, never expecting anything in return
except for the satisfaction it brings him to help others; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, 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
honor Dr. John Rugge upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award by the Adirondack
Regional Chamber of Commerce; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. John Rugge.