Assembly Resolution No. 1156

BY: M. of A. Peoples-Stokes

CELEBRATING the life and accomplishments of Frank
B. Mesiah, longtime civil rights leader and former
NAACP president

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah of Buffalo, New York, died on April 27,
2018, at the age of 89; and

WHEREAS, Born on July 18, 1928, Frank B. Mesiah grew up on the West
Side of Buffalo and attended School 77; he went on to graduate from
Grover Cleveland High School in 1946, where he was a star football
player; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah was a laborer at Bethlehem Steel in
Lackawanna, as well as a janitor and machine operator in the Chevrolet
engine plant in Tonawanda, before valiantly serving his country as a
member of the United States Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant First
Class; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, Frank B.
Mesiah served as a Buffalo Police Patrolman from 1954 to 1967; he was
only the 13th African-American to serve with the Buffalo Police
Department; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, while working undercover on a police
assignment, Frank B. Mesiah attended a talk by Malcolm X; listening to
that speech encouraged him to step to the forefront of fighting racial
discrimination in Buffalo; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah attended Buffalo State Teachers College,
graduating in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education and
in 1969 with a master's degree in administration and supervision; and

WHEREAS, While working as a teacher, Frank B. Mesiah joined with
other black and white residents to protest the de facto segregation of
Buffalo's Public Schools; his dedication helped lay the groundwork for
the lawsuit that led to Judge John T. Curtain's 1976 ruling to integrate
Buffalo schools; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious career in education, Frank B.
Mesiah served as the Media Coordinator and Assistant Director of School
Integration for Buffalo schools; he was also a part time instructor at
both Canisius College and Cornell University Buffalo Labor Studies
Program, where he taught courses on managing diversity, sexual
harassment prevention, and other subjects; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man went on to become an educational
planner with Erie 1 BOCES before taking a position handling

discrimination cases with the State Department of Labor, a role he
served for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah also advocated for the concerns of the
black community from many platforms, most prominently as President of
the Black Educators Association and President of the Buffalo Branch
NAACP from 1996 to 2016; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, he was instrumental in opening Buffalo police
and firefighter positions to minorities, including African-Americans,
women and other groups; and

WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Frank B. Mesiah served on then
Governor Mario Cuomo's Advisory Committee on Black Affairs, and the
Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority; and

WHEREAS, In addition, he was a member of the Board of Directors of
the Greater Buffalo Development Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Western
New York Public Broadcasting Corporation, Vice President of BUILD,
Secretary of the Black Leadership Forum, Secretary of the Afro American
Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Vice President of
Everywomen's Opportunity Center, and Project Director of the Black
American Museum & Cultural Center in Niagara Falls; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah was the proud recipient of numerous awards
and accolades, including the NAACP Medgar Evers Award, Evans-Young Urban
League Award, SUNY Buffalo State's Outstanding Alumni Award, Erie County
Bar Association's Justice Award, YMCA Greater Buffalo Award, New York
State Employees Brotherhood Award, and a Buffalo News 1986 Citizen of
the Year; and

WHEREAS, Frank B. Mesiah is survived by his three daughters, Leza,
Nicolette and Francesca; and a brother, Clarence; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Frank B. Mesiah 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
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Frank B. Mesiah, longtime
civil rights leader and former NAACP president; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Frank B. Mesiah.