LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring William Holicky upon the occasion of his
retirement after 37 years of distinguished service to The House of the
Good Shepherd

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have
devoted themselves to faithfully serving the best interests of their
community and the needs of its residents; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
William Holicky upon the occasion of his retirement after 37 years of
distinguished service to The House of the Good Shepherd, to be cele-
brated with a Retirement Party in his honor on Saturday, June 7, 2014,
at The Sadaquada Golf Club, Whitesboro, New York; and
WHEREAS, For the past 37 years, William Holicky, affectionately known
as Bill, rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to The
House of the Good Shepherd; and
WHEREAS, The House of the Good Shepherd began when a small group of
concerned men and women gathered on February 8, 1872, to discuss the
growing number of orphans and the disruption of family life during the
post-Civil War period; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, The House of the Good Shepherd has grown
and evolved into a Sanctuary certified institution, with less than 50 in
the world; under the luminous direction of Bill Holicky, The House
continues its historical commitment to address the needs of children,
their families and the community; and
WHEREAS, In his capacity as Executive Director, Bill Holicky served
with loyalty, honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, For nearly four decades, Bill Holicky has shown a unique
ability to lead The House of the Good Shepherd through challenging times
and remain committed to the organization's mission of changing the lives
of its children; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career, Bill Holicky has been
instrumental in the success of The House of the Good Shepherd; in the
mid-1980s, the organization partnered with Faxon St. Luke's Healthcare
to purchase land and expand its services; this expansion included the
growth of the foster care system in Oneida County; and
WHEREAS, Today, more than 80 percent of children who receive services
through The House of the Good Shepherd live in community-based family
settings, including 200 in foster homes; and
WHEREAS, In his official acts, Bill Holicky was governed by a keen
sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure with The House of the Good Shepherd, Bill
Holicky earned the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues;
and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, leadership, intellect, and commitment as that demon-
strated by Bill Holicky over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to
others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor William Holicky upon the occasion of his retirement after 37 years
of distinguished service to The House of the Good Shepherd; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to William Holicky.