Past Distinguished Citizen Award Honorees for 2005
Michael
F. Nozzolio - A New York State Senator of the 54th
District, a Republican/Conservative, was born and raised in Seneca Falls, the
son of Anna and Albert F. Nozzolio.
Educated in local
schools, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Labor Relations, and a Master's degree
in Public Administration and Agricultural Economics from Cornell
University. Senator Nozzolio also earned a Juris Doctor degree from the
Syracuse University College of Law.
In 2003, Senator
Nozzolio began his sixth term as a New York State Senator. Senator
Nozzolio is the senior Senator and leader of the Monroe County State Legislative
Delegation. Senator Nozzolio is a staunch and outspoken proponent of
criminal justice reform and victims' rights. His work to promote tougher
sentences for violent felons and assist crime victims has been recognized on the
state and national levels. Senator Nozzolio was re-appointed to serve as
Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee. In
recognition of his aggressive efforts to combat "Identity Theft,"
Senator Nozzolio was named Co-Chairman of the Senate Majority Task Force on
Privacy Invasion.
Helping to oversee homeland security, Senator Nozzolio, a
Commander in the New York Naval Militia, was appointed the Liaison Officer to
the New York State Canal Corporation and Special Advisor on Security Affairs in
New York State. Senator Nozzolio was also
appointed to the Executive Committee of the Senate Majority Task Force on World
Trade Center Recovery.
Senator Nozzolio's
accomplishments as Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Chairman include
the passage of the death penalty, tougher sentencing guidelines for violent
criminals, an end to work release for dangerous felons, the passage of Megan's
Law, the Sex Offender Reform Act, the Domestic Violence Prevention and Family
Protection Act and Jenna's Law, as well as the establishment of the
revolutionary Willard Drug Treatment Campus, the KidsPeace Seneca Woods
Residential Center, and the opening of a new 750 cell maximum security prison at
the former Seneca Army Depot.
Senator Nozzolio has
been honored for his commitment to bettering the State's criminal justice system
and correctional system and was named Legislator of the Year by the New York
State Parole Officers Association. Senator Nozzolio was also named
Legislator of the Year by the New York Conference of Italian-American State
Legislators.
In 1992, Senator
Nozzolio overwhelmingly won election as State Senator. The district is
composed of Seneca and Wayne counties and parts of Ontario, Monroe, Cayuga and
Tompkins counties. Senator Nozzolio carried every county, town and city of
the 54th Senate District in his subsequent elections to the State Senate.
Senator Nozzolio has
served as Chairman of the Senate Elections Committee and pushed through New
York's landmark Voter Registration Act of 1994, a measure which made
registration possible at a host of public locations. Senator Nozzolio was
also responsible for hearings which uncovered election fraud in New York City.
Prior to serving in
the New York State Senate, Senator Nozzolio served for 10 years in the New York
State Assembly representing Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne Counties of the 128th
Assembly district. At the time, he was the youngest State legislator ever
elected from his region.
In the Assembly,
Assemblyman Nozzolio rose to the position of Deputy Minority Leader as well as
being appointed as Chairman of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee.
In recognition of his
efforts in many different fields, Senator Nozzolio has received numerous awards
throughout his tenure, including honors from the New York State Farm Bureau,
Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID), Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, Finger
Lakes Library Association Public Service Award, Vocational and Educational
Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Finger Lakes Chapter of the
Hearing Impaired, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, Sexual Assault
Victims' Advocate Resource (SAVAR), New York State Correction Officers, the New
York State Parole Officers Association, and the New York Conference of
Italian-American State Legislators. Senator Nozzolio has also been awarded the
Father Joseph P. Beatini Memorial Award.
Locally, Senator
Nozzolio serves on the Board of Directors of the Martin P. Catherwood Library of
the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, the
Rochester Institute of Technology's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies
(CIMS), and the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park.
Standing Committee
Assignments 2003: Crime Victims, Crime and Correction (Chairman); Alcoholism and
Drug Abuse; Banks; Consumer Protection; Mental Health; Racing, Gaming and
Wagering; Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development; Transportation.
David Allman
- David is a Boy Scout
in Troop 125 in Williamson. When David was 13 years old, he was able to
save the life of his older sister who was choking. David, a First Class
Scout at the time, was able to use lifesaving skills learned in scouts to
prevent his sister from choking to death. Medics that arrived at the scene
were very impressed by David’s actions. They believe that because of
David’s quick thinking and skills, his sister is alive today.
David is in 9th grade in Williamson and enjoys fishing, hunting, and
snow mobiling. He plays soccer for the Wild Cats in addition to Scouting.
David is the first and only recipient in Finger Lakes Council history to receive
the Medal of Merit from The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
The Medal of Merit for Meritorious Action is presented to a Scout that has
preformed an act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an
uncommon degree of concern for the well being of others.
David is the son of Gregory and Betsy Allman of Williamson and has two sisters:
Alexandra age 17, Ariana age 10 and a brother Joseph age 5.