J 922: Honoring Bob O'Connor posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame on September 15, 2025

 Senate Resolution No. 922 BY: Senator TEDISCO HONORING Bob O'Connor posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame on September 15, 2025 WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team play, team spirit, and is nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical development of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by instilling the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy living, imparting a desire for success, and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those outstanding athletes who have inspired and brought pride to their schools and communities by achieving outstanding success in competition, and attaining unprecedented success and the highest level of personal achievement; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Bob O'Connor posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame at its 2025 Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame & Reunion Dinner on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Event Center at Rivers Casino & Resort, Schenectady, New York; and WHEREAS, Bob O'Connor was a basketball and track & field star at the original Schenectady High School (SHS) and was an aggressive forward on the court; he was a key member of the outstanding 1925-26 SHS basketball team that won the Eastern New York Championship; and WHEREAS, Demonstrating his track and field acumen, Bob O'Connor was an outstanding shot putter, winning the 1926 Sectional title, and finishing second in the New York State meet at Cornell; he also recorded a fourth-place finish in the discus at the State Meet; and WHEREAS, Although SHS did not have a football team when he attended, Bob O'Connor ultimately excelled at the sport attending Stanford and playing on coach Pop Warner's last Stanford football team in 1932; and WHEREAS, Bob O'Connor started at left guard on the 1933 Stanford team that tied Oregon for the Pacific Coast Conference title and handed University of Southern California its first loss in 27 games in front of 95,000 people at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; and WHEREAS Bob O'Connor's Stanford team finished that season with an 8-2-1 record, outscoring opponents 131-43, and played in the prestigious 1934 Rose Bowl; and WHEREAS, Bob O'Connor went on to play in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, where his coach was Curly Lambeau, and his 1935 team garnered an 8-4 record finishing second in the Western Division; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Bob O'Connor posthumously upon the occasion of his induction into the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame on September 15, 2025; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Bob O'Connor.