Dr. Barry Culhane Recognized by Senator Jim Alesi for Induction Into Veterans’ Hall of Fame

Annual Program Honors Veterans’ Contributions to Our Community

Senator Jim Alesi announced today that Rochester native Dr. Barry R. Culhane has been inducted into the 2012 New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame.  Dr. Culhane was welcomed to Albany May 22^nd, where he was honored at a ceremony at the State Capitol. 

“The New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State, like Dr. Culhane, who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life,” said Senator Alesi.  “Dr. Culhane has been a tireless advocate for our veterans and I am proud to nominate him for induction into the Veterans’ Hall of Fame.  His service to our nation and to his fellow veterans deserves the special recognition that only a Hall of Fame can provide.”

Dr. Barry R. Culhane served in the United States Army as a medic from 1969-1971, and has been active in local veterans’ organizations for over forty years, including twenty years (1987-2006) as the President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.  Dr. Culhane was instrumental in securing community support and financial resources to complete the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park, and has received numerous honors for his efforts, most notably, when the County of Monroe and the City of Rochester declared September 8, 2006 “Barry Culhane Day” in Monroe County.  In recognition for his work on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Dr. Culhane received the Outstanding Service Award from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20 in 1996, and a year earlier, he was presented the Rochester Institute of Technology President’s Award.

A tenured faculty member and associate professor at RIT since 1981, Dr. Culhane is the Executive Assistance to the President, and has been the Chairman for RIT’s Innovation and Creativity Festival: Imagine RIT, since its inception in 2008.  Dr. Culhane was also RIT’s first Student Ombudsman, and in 1997 was the President of the national University and College Ombuds Association.  Dr. Culhane is on the Al Sigl Community of Agencies Board of Governors and the Al Sigl Community of Agencies Board of Directors, where he served as Chairman from 2004-2006.  He is also a current member of the Rochester Rotary Club, and was previously Club President in 2000 and 2001, and President of the Rochester Rotary Charitable Trust Board between 2002 and 2004.  Dr. Culhane has also served as Chairman of the Board of Upstate Multiple Sclerosis from 1994 to 1996, and in 2001, he was named the Multiple Sclerosis “Angel” of the year.

A Rochester native and Gates Chili Spartan, Dr. Culhane was elected into the Gates Chili High School Hall of Fame in 1997.  He is a graduate of the University of Windsor, Canada, and received his doctorate in cognitive psychology from the University of Rochester in 1976.  Dr. Culhane is married to Dr. Christine Licata and they have two daughters.

Dr. Culhane will join the late Ralph Chinelly of East Rochester (2005), Norbert Rappl of Irondequoit (2007), John Perrone of Penfield (2010), and Nick Verzella of East Rochester (2011) as members of the Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame nominated by Senator Alesi.

The New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame was created to honor and recognize outstanding veterans from the Empire State, like Barry Culhane, who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life.  Their meritorious service to our nation deserves the special recognition that only a Hall of Fame can provide, as a fitting expression of our gratitude and admiration.

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