Assembly Resolution No. 940

BY: M. of A. Heastie

HONORING the life and legacy of Floyd Carter, Sr.

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this Nation, and the
great State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and good
works of those patriotic and civic-minded community members who
dedicated their lives and careers to the service of others; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
distinguished life and accomplishments of Floyd Carter, Sr., Lieutenant
Colonel, United States Air Force (Ret.); and

WHEREAS, Floyd Carter, Sr. was born in Yorktown, Virginia; he joined
the Army Air Corps in 1944, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant
Bombardier Navigator in 1945; and

WHEREAS, In 1946, Floyd Carter, Sr. received his pilot wings and
transferred the following year to the Air Force Reserves, where he
served for 30 years until retiring in 1974, with the esteemed rank of
Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 732nd Military Airlift Squadron
at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, During his military career, Floyd Carter, Sr. served as a
bombardier navigator for the famous African-American Tuskegee Airmen
unit at Tuskegee University, where he met his wife, Artherine; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure with the Tuskegee Airmen, Floyd Carter,
Sr. and his fellow airmen overcame both internal challenges and enemy
fire in several war zones; and

WHEREAS, He spoke openly about the discrimination he and his fellow
airmen faced during their training, which was the main reason many
cadets left the program; and

WHEREAS, Floyd Carter, Sr. flew several missions in war zones,
including World War II where he led the first squadron and supply-laden
planes into Berlin during the Cold War Airlift of 1948-1949, and flew
U.S. troops and supplies into South Vietnam during the Tet Offensive;
and

WHEREAS, Shortly before his retirement from the U.S. Air Force,
Floyd Carter, Sr. once again made history as the first African-American
commander of a heavy jet transport squadron; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his reserve duties, Floyd Carter, Sr. became
part of New York's Finest, a New York City Police officer in 1953, where
he quickly rose to the rank of detective before retiring in 1980; and

WHEREAS, His responsibilities while a member of the NYPD included
work as a bodyguard for heads of state, even spending time with Cuban
leader Fidel Castro and Soviet head Nikita Khrushchev; his distinguished
service earned him a half-dozen citations for his outstanding police
work; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Floyd Carter, Sr. was honored with the
Congressional Gold Medal award by then President George W. Bush and
remained active into his 90s serving as grand marshal of the annual
Veteran's Day Parade in the Bronx in November of 2015; and

WHEREAS, Floyd Carter Sr. is survived by his loving wife of 70
years, Atherine; two children, Floyd Jr. and Rozalind; and his
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as many friends and
colleagues who will long cherish his good character, passion and
positive attitude; and

WHEREAS, Floyd Carter Sr.'s life was a portrait of service, 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
honor the distinguished life and accomplishments of Floyd Carter, Sr.,
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force (Ret.), 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 Floyd Carter, Sr.