Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board
Paul W. Pinckney, ChairmanDavid V. Bottar, Executive Director  

Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award, Past Recipients

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Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., PhD. CNY RPDB's 2013 REC Award Recipient

Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., Ph.D. (left) receives the CNY RPDB's Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award from Board Chairwoman Kathleen A. Rapp at the Board's 2013 Annual Meeting
Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., Ph.D. (left) receives the CNY RPDB's Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award from Board Chairwoman Kathleen A. Rapp at the Board's 2013 Annual Meeting

Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., Ph.D., President of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, was named the recipient of the 27th annual Rhea Eckel Clark Citizenship Award at the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board’s annual meeting held on December 10, 2013.

Dr. Murphy began his career by obtaining a bachelor of arts degree from St. Michael’s College and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Syracuse University. Following his academic work, Dr. Murphy was employed by the O’Brien and Gere Companies, where he rose through the ranks to become President in 1993. Following a seven year tenure in this leadership position, Dr. Murphy returned to his academic roots and became President of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry from 2000–2013.

Dr. Murphy’s community service includes board membership on the Upstate Medical University Foundation, Boy Scouts of America’s Hiawatha Council, CenterState CEO, Audobon Society of New York, Say Yes Scholarship Governance Board, and Co-Chair of the SUNY Energy Smart New York Innovation Team. Among his many awards, Dr. Murphy has been recognized with the Post-Standard Achievement award, the Salvation Army Community Spirit award, the FOCUS Greater Syracuse Wisdom Keeper Award for Citizenship Trustee, the Greening USA Sustaining our Community award, and the Adirondack Environmental Education Leadership award.

Past Recipients

2019 James J. Murphy, Jr., CNY RPDB Chairman
2018 Lawrence J. Baker, CNY RPDB Board member
2017 Rhea Jezer, Director and Chair, Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century; President, Energy21 LTD
2016 Robert J. Daino, President and CEO, WCNY
2015 Kathryn Howe Ruscitto, President and CEO, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center
2014 Barbara S. Rivette, Historian, Town and Village of Manlius and Village of Fayetteville
2013 Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr., PhD., President, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
2012 Walter John Tennant, Jr. (posthumously), Chairman, CNY RPDB
2010 Louis Pettinelli, CNY RPDB Board member
2009 Mary Ann Messinger, CNY RPDB Board member
2008 Ferdinand L. Picardi, Chairman, Metropolitan Water Board, Onondaga County Water District
2007 David R. Elleman, CNY RPDB Board member, Onondaga County Comptroller (retired)
2006 Eugene G. Saloga, Director, City of Oswego Community Development (retired)
2005 John Zawadzki, President, Partners Trust Bank; Central Upstate Regional Alliance
2004 James T. Walsh, U.S. Congressman
2003 Robert Doucette, Armory Development & Management
2002 Chuckie Holstein, FOCUS Greater Syracuse
2001 Ralph Standbrook, Chairman, Cayuga County Legislature
2000 Robert H. Kuiper, Mayor, Village of Hamilton
1999 John H. Mulroy (posthumously), former Onondaga County Executive
1998 Ann Petrus, Chair, Cayuga County Water & Sewer Authority; Supervisor, Town of Brutus
1997 Bruce B. Phelps, Oswego County businessman
1996 Arthur W. Ospelt, Oswego County Administrator
1994 Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative; CEO, Nation Enterprises
1993 Tarky Lombardi, Jr., former New York State Senator
1992 Vijay Mital, Director, Department of Planning and Economic Development, City of Auburn; Team Snyder General
1991 Marilyn Higgins-Rohde, Senior Vice President, Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce
1990 Robert J. Congel, President, Pyramid Companies
1989 Warren H. Frank, Executive Director, CNYRTA
1988 Mayor Tom Young’s Advertising Advisory Council
1987 Francis P. Benton, former CNY RPDB Chairman
1986 L. Steve Riford, NYS Senator
1985 Hollis Iselin, Chair, Oswego County Legislature
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