LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring William M. Clay upon the occasion of his
retirement after 40 distinguished years of public service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those distinguished citizens who demonstrate great courage and diligence
in providing for the care and welfare of the citizens of their communi-
ties and this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their exem-
plary contributions and service on behalf of others; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
William M. Clay upon the occasion of his retirement after 40 distin-
guished years of public service; and
WHEREAS, William Clay served as Assistant Commissioner of the Minority
and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) and Community Relations
Office at the New York State Office of General Services (OGS); he was
honored to rejoin the agency again in 2007 after originally retiring
with 35 years of service; and
WHEREAS, Under his leadership, William Clay accomplished the follow-
ing: initiated the first OGS Managers M/WBE Advisory Committee quarter-
ly meetings; opened the first M/WBE Satellite Office on the Empire State
Plaza Concourse in Albany; developed interactive M/WBE performance meas-
ures that provide for the improvement of OGS compliance practices and
vendor accountability; increased office staff resources; improved
dialogue and renewed partnership with Empire State Development; devel-
oped an interactive M/WBE website; worked with Counsel's Office to
update OGS contract language; initiated new M/WBE outreach procedures
(regional Helping Hand Workshops and Consultant & Construction Symposi-
ums) that helped OGS improve its M/WBE goals; and increased agency visi-
bility and integrity by conducting community awareness meetings; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clay first joined OGS in 1964 as a Capital Police Officer
and rose through the ranks to become its first African-American Captain;
in 1981, Governor Hugh Carey issued Executive Order 117, which
prescribed arrangements for establishing and coordinating a program for
Minority Business Enterprises (MBE); shortly after, John C. Egan,
Commissioner of OGS appointed William Clay as Director of the MBE
program; and
WHEREAS, In this position, William Clay had the responsibility of
instituting and organizing the first state-wide MBE program; two years
later, Governor Mario Cuomo issued Executive Order 21, which superseded
Executive Order 117, and included Women and established an Executive
Committee on Minority and Women Owned Business Development (W/MBE); and
WHEREAS, Upon his retirement, Mr. Clay served 15 years as President of
his own private investigation and security firm, C & P Investigations,
which he formed in 1993; in 2007, he was elected to a second term in the
Albany County Legislature to represent residents of the 13th Legislative
District; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clay has won numerous awards throughout the years for his
work to promote minority and women-owned business development; he serves
on the following committees: the City of Albany Planning Board; Albany
County Human Services Advisory Board; the Albany Police Foundation
Board; the Community Loan Fund Development Committee; and is Chairman of
the Budget Committee of the Albany County Industrial Development Agency
(ACIDA); and

WHEREAS, William M. Clay has been a faithful and dedicated member of
the Metropolitan New Testament Missionary Baptist Church of Albany for
over five decades; he is also affiliated with the New York State Securi-
ty Guard Advisory Council, the Associated Licensed Detectives of New
York State, Inc., NAACP Albany Branch, and is Vice President of 100
Black Men, Inc. of the Capital Region; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clay attended Hudson Valley Community College, Cornell
University, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State
College, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Jean, and their chil-
dren Michael and Scott, along with several grandchildren and one great
grandchild, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and
rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those dedicated
public servants who unselfishly devote their lives to the preservation
of order and the protection of others are worthy and due full praise for
their commitment and noble endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor William M. Clay upon the occasion of his retirement after 40
distinguished years of public service; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to William M. Clay.