LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Tom Brokaw upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by St. Francis College at its Annual
Charter Award Dinner

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and
character of life in this great Empire State is indelibly enriched by
the faithful and untiring efforts of those individuals who have helped
shape the history of broadcasting; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Tom Brokaw
upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by St.
Francis College at its Annual Charter Award Dinner, on Tuesday, April 1,
2014, at the Marriott Marquis; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, Tom Brokaw began his distinguished journalism career
with NBC News in the Los Angeles bureau where he covered Ronald Reagan's
first run for public office, the rise of the sixties counter culture,
the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and the 1968 presidential campaign;
and
WHEREAS, From Los Angeles, Tom Brokaw became the White House corre-
spondent in Washington during Watergate, as well as the principal back-
up for John Chancellor as anchor of NBC Nightly News; he went on to New
York, where he worked for the TODAY Show, followed by his appointment as
anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Tom Brokaw took over Meet the Press for the 2008
campaign, making him the only person to host all three major NBC News
Programs; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, Tom Brokaw reported on
more than 30 documentaries covering subjects ranging from AIDS, Los
Angeles gangs, race, education, medicine, immigration and global warm-
ing; and
WHEREAS, Among his countless accomplishments, Tom Brokaw was the first
to interview Mikhail Gorbachev, gave the first network report on human
rights abuse in Tibet accompanied by an exclusive interview with the
Dali Lama, and was the only American network anchor to report from
Berlin the night the Berlin wall came down; and
WHEREAS, In 1998 Tom Brokaw published his first book, THE GREATEST
GENERATION, one of the most popular nonfiction books of the 20th centu-
ry; he has written articles for many publications ranging from THE NEW
YORK TIMES to ROLLING STONE, and has won every major award in his craft,
including the Peabody Award, Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award,
Emmy Awards and Lifetime Achievement recognition; and
WHEREAS, Tom Brokaw has, throughout his career and purposeful life,
served his community with integrity and devotion, continuously striving
to meet the needs of his listeners through entertainment and enlight-
enment; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Tom Brokaw upon the occasion of his designation for special recog-
nition by St. Francis College at its Annual Charter Award Dinner; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tom Brokaw.