Senate Resolution No. 781

BY: Senator GRIFFO

CONGRATULATING Donald F. Vaughan upon the occasion
of his retirement after 30 years of distinguished
service as Coach of the Colgate University Men's Ice
Hockey Team

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality of life in the communities across this great State of New
York is enriched by the diligence and compassionate commitment of those
individuals whose singular purpose is the care and welfare of our
student athletes; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
congratulate Donald F. Vaughan upon the occasion of his retirement after
30 years of distinguished service as Coach of the Colgate University
Men's Ice Hockey Team; and

WHEREAS, Coach Donald F. Vaughan's announcement comes on the heels
of an unforgettable postseason run after guiding the Colgate University
Raiders to its first ECAC Hockey championship since 1990; and

WHEREAS, In addition to this monumental accomplishment, Coach Donald
F. Vaughan has led his team to six 20-win seasons and four NCAA
tournament berths; and

WHEREAS, The nation's third-longest tenured Division I Head Men's
Hockey Coach, Donald F. Vaughan began his long and distinguished career
with Colgate University in 1992; after three decades, he leaves the
program with 470 victories, making him the winningest coach in program
history; and

WHEREAS, Under Coach Donald F. Vaughan's leadership, men's hockey
has continued to focus on graduating individuals committed to good
citizenship and sportsmanship, the program seeks not only the
championship trophy, but the best and brightest undergraduates to hoist
it; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure with the Raiders, Coach Donald F.
Vaughan has developed and mentored more than 200 Academic All-ECAC
members, 56 All-ECAC Hockey honors, seven All-Americans, five Hobey
Baker Award finalists, three Colgate 1819 award winners, two ECAC Hockey
Players of the Year, one NHL Stanley Cup winner, an ECAC Scholar-Athlete
of the Year, and one Hockey Humanitarian Award winner; and

WHEREAS, Moreover, he has coached 36 Raiders who went on to be
drafted in the NHL, or were drafted prior to coming to Colgate; and

WHEREAS, For his steadfast and unremitting commitment to the Raiders
and college ice hockey as a whole, Coach Donald F. Vaughan was the
recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2004 Silver
Puck Award, a 2005 Maroon Citation, and was a two-time ECAC Hockey Coach
of the Year honoree; and

WHEREAS, On November 11, 2007, Colgate University announced the
creation of the Donald F. Vaughan Endowed Coaching Chair for Men's Ice
Hockey; at the time, he was the only active coach in Division I Men's
Hockey to have an endowment in his name; and

WHEREAS, A 1984 graduate of St. Lawrence, Donald F. Vaughan played
three seasons of varsity hockey for the Saints after earning All-America
status in his only season at Canton College; while with the Saints, he
tallied 41 goals and 49 assists for 90 points in 96 games as a center;
and

WHEREAS, In 1983, Donald F. Vaughan helped lead his team to the NCAA
tournament and a first-place finish in the ECAC's West Region; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife Mariel, and their
two children, Mark and Maria, all of whom feel privileged to be a part
of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and

WHEREAS, Coach Donald F. Vaughan has clearly had an enduring impact
on the student athletes of Colgate University, as well as on the
community-at-large, and accordingly merits recognition and applause for
his impressive dedication to 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
congratulate Donald F. Vaughan upon the occasion of his retirement after
30 years of distinguished service as Coach of the Colgate University
Men's Ice Hockey Team, and to wish him well in all his future endeavors;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Donald F. Vaughan.