Senate Resolution No. 3379

BY: Senator LITTLE

MOURNING the death of David Strader, longtime
National Hockey League Broadcaster, distinguished
citizen and proud member of his Glens Falls
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding individuals who distinguished themselves through their
exceptional careers, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and

WHEREAS, It is with feelings of great sorrow and deepest regret that
this Legislative Body records the passing of David Strader, well-known
National Hockey League (NHL) announcer, distinguished citizen and proud
member of his community, noting the significance of the loss of a man
with immense talent and an indomitable spirit; and

WHEREAS, David Strader of Glens Falls, New York, died on Sunday,
October 1, 2017, at the age of 62; and

WHEREAS, Born on February 24, 1955, in Glens Falls, New York, David
was the son of the late Earl and Mary (Hoague) Strader; and

WHEREAS, David Strader was a 1973 graduate of Glens Falls High
School, where he was a member of the 1972-1973 basketball team that won
the Class A Section II title and was later named to the Glens Falls High
School Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, David Strader graduated magna cum laude from UMass
Amherst with a degree in communications studies, where he was also a
member of the JV basketball team; and

WHEREAS, While working at the student radio station, David Strader
pursued his passion as a play-by-play announcer for UMass basketball
games; and

WHEREAS, David Strader was fortunate that a broadcasting opportunity
presented itself in his hometown; he had never even seen a live hockey
game when he took the job as the first voice of the Adirondack Red Wings
in 1979; he soon became a two-time recipient of the New York State
Broadcaster Association Award; this was the start of his hockey
broadcasting career that would span 35-plus years, including 30-plus
years covering the NHL; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his esteemed career, David Strader was a
play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings, ESPN, Florida
Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, NBC Sports and the Dallas Stars; he was
recently awarded two new Emmys for his call of the Dallas Stars vs.
Tampa Bay Lightning game which was played on February 18, 2017; and

WHEREAS, David Strader was also the voice of over 100 consecutive
Stanley Cup Final Games for NHL International television between 1997
and 2015; his career included calling the first regular season NHL games

played outside North America when the NHL played two games in Japan
ahead of the 1998 Nagano Olympics; and

WHEREAS, David called Olympic hockey at the 2006 Torino and 2014
Sochi Winter Games, where he also called the Gold Medal Sled hockey
game; and

WHEREAS, One of his many career highlights was calling the NHL's
2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago but his two biggest
honors were recent; David Strader received an Emmy award, along with the
rest of the Dallas Stars TV crew, for their work on a Stars 2016 playoff
game against the Minnesota Wild, and this June, it was announced he was
the recipient of the 2017 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his
outstanding contributions to the field of broadcasting; moreover, he was
inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in November of 2017;
and

WHEREAS, In addition to all the hockey he called throughout his
distinguished career, David Strader was happy when there was an
opportunity to return to his first love, basketball; at ESPN, he called
men's and women's college hoops, WNBA and D League games; at NBC, he
also called men's college basketball as well as basketball for the 2012
London Summer Olympics; and

WHEREAS, Although his career took him to many different locations
around the country, he always kept a home in his beloved Glens Falls
area; and

WHEREAS, This exceptional man distinguished himself in his
profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to
the welfare of his community; his commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, The most important event of David Strader's life was on
August 7, 1976, when he married his high school sweetheart, Colleen
Casey; and

WHEREAS, David Strader, who will be remembered for his extraordinary
sense of humor, his one-liners, his silly song parodies and always being
the life of the party, enjoyed being a member of the Glens Falls YMCA
Noontime Basketball League, playing golf, long bike rides, and summers
spent in Lake George on his boat with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, David Strader's greatest source of happiness was his
family; he was truly a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud
grandfather, and a man whose dedication to his loved ones took
precedence over all things; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his parents, David Strader is predeceased by
his in-laws, John and Jean (Fitzgerald) Casey; he is survived by the
love of his life and best friend, his wife of 41 years, Colleen Strader;
three sons, Christopher (Karen) Strader, Trevor Strader, and Casey (Dr.
Mary) Strader; two grandchildren, Sydney Strader and Charles Strader;
siblings, Dr. Steve (Becky) Strader, Scott (Elizabeth) Strader, and
Debbie (James) Mazza; sister-in-law, Shawn (Peter) Woolford;
brother-in-law, Kevin (Mary Ann) Casey; and numerous nieces and nephews
and great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as Colleen's wonderful

extended family, all of whom he was very close to for more than 40
years; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, David Strader leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of David Strader, and to express its deepest condolences
to his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of David Strader.