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New York change I'm challenge this time each week for the station brings you this timely series on New York City in a state of flux because the CLI politically culturally socially on today's program which we'll hear the ceremonies for the awarding of the mayor's medal for distinguished performance here now to open the program is the chairman Luther going to. Mr Mayor poster deputy mayor commissioners ladies and gentlemen welcome we're here Mr Mayor for one purpose today and that is to help you confirm the mayor's medal or distinguished performance on an outstanding civil servant of this city each year the mayor confers two of these medals they're extremely rare troll pay for any man to carry with them as a memento of his service to the eight million people who live in New York there's a great thrill in working for eight million people but you never have time to stop and think about it while you're on the job and the people of New York much as they appreciate service they're also very quick to make suggestions to criticize and to protest but on this occasion we come here to give tribute for service rendered. The mayor set up a committee to make recommendations to him in the selection of candidates. The committee canvass is all of the departments the commissioners and the civic groups within the city to gather the nominations only those men and women are eligible who have been in the service of the city over the past five years commissioners and the tops are not eligible it's designed for the career servants who come up the ladder of the public service I'm very happy that we have for our Top of the five members of the nominating committee here today. Dean Warren the deputy mayor. And city administrator and the director of personnel. And. Our dean was hidden how why yesterday I hadn't got home just saw that he wouldn't miss a day he'd promised to be present for I. Had Mr Mayor our nomination and far the medal which could be awarded today is for Mr John ask can I who is the managing attorney out of a lot of parks and. Thank you thank you. Dr Gillick Dean Warren Commissioner Halderman deputy mayor city administrator Timothy Castello Corporation Council J. They reckon most importantly Mr Kelly Mrs Kelly Mrs Kelly SR. Jack age seventeen Jane age twenty five and husband I should have said that age that was all written in here over twenty one you quit right. Cathy nineteen Mary. Joseph twenty four and Barbara thirteen and I had them all I get the whole family and I miss anyone. Jack Jack seventeen. Well with that number of children. Mr KELLY I compliment you on survival. And how you've managed to have such a beautiful handsome family. And. Acquire additional members of the family through marriage and and then do a full time more than full time. Total time job for the city of New York at the same time it's very difficult to assess except that I suspect that one reason for your strength and your power in serving the city of New York is that you've got a great gang with you and behind you that give you that support I want your children to know how proud the city of New York is of their father your father. And Mrs Kelly how proud I am as the mayor to be honored to give this award. To your wife and to your son. On this day Dr Gillick when Mr Kelly receives this award for serving the city of New York it's not eight million people it is sixteen million people of the region of New York who are served by Mr Kelly and his colleagues in public service of the city of New York. The other day I received a letter from a man who said Mr Mayor when you proposed a very modest. Tax on the region of New York commuters that is who come to New York but don't live here I bitterly resented it and you. And when it passed I was very angry and said I want to take it all back. I'm for it and I'll tell you why because when my commuter train came into New York the other day. There was it got in and it got it had a problem it was the rail. On the edges of the city and said this gentleman. Lives in Westchester County he said within five minutes your police department was there with all emergency equipment at the same time your fire department was there other city services were there instantaneously women and children were taken care of there were no serious injuries injuries but had there been they were fully equipped with doctors and medical care. Transportation was provided immediately for all people on the train who need a transportation telephone calls were made he said I've never seen such an example of a municipal government taking care of the people who do not live there and I'm for your very modest tax and I want you to know it so I don't stress that this city serves an entire region and. It it increasingly I think is becoming noticeable. That there is a high quality of service in municipal government and we hope becoming higher quality all the time. If it doesn't it will it's because of the quality of performance provided by the John Kelly's of New York. Forty years and the corporation counsel's office serving a. Series of corporation councils and mayors. Providing that continuum and stability in the careers service without which any huge government. Can't continue I may say also Mr Kelley that one reason that. I was able to attract and diminish civil service. Federal man was to jail a rank and former solicitor general of the United States and they argue were of the Brown case in the Supreme Court and the I.Q. were more government cases and any solicitor general in modern history. One one reason I was able to attract him in a civil service was that he took a look at what he was getting into and he knew that there were enough John Kelly's. To make possible. The. Attraction of more John Kelly's and that of course is precisely what Mr Rankin has been doing with his honors program and getting the cream of the crop out of the law schools of the city and the region and the country in fact to come in to the corporations counsel's office at the first levels in order to become the future John Kelly's. So I'm very proud to be in the executive of this city with that kind of caliber and. It makes one very optimistic indeed. About the future. To have this kind of excitement. We're going to have another award when a doctor goes like but later on Isn't that right every announced it today though we have not. We should go ahead and announce it all right I want to. Announce also today that we have a second award winner who is Mr Samuel Brooks the executive director of the housing and redevelopment board Mr Brooks is on a holiday out of the city with his family long overdue and it would have been it would have been criminal to require him to return for this reason and we will have the present Taishan made at a later date but the announcement is made today. Mr Brooks is a Bronx resident and as perform superbly in this very complicated part of New York City's government which is a part which is going through this municipal reorganization of the structure of government that we're going through now and he provides again a movement in a stability in a strength that is needed particularly during that reorganization his friends. To be and supporters and family of course his family is not here but some friends are I'm sure to be congratulated and in this award which is being announced today but which I will deliver to him when he returns. I think perhaps I read the citation. And present the medallion Mr Rankin is going to say a few words is that not correct and anyone else that usage use Dr you like Mr RANKIN. Thank you and. Mr Mayor. Dr Gurley members of the committee. John Kelly members of John's family friends. People of the region of New York City. This is one of those moments in the life of the city and this great region. Is very precious to all of us. Who have any contact or experience in government. It is a recognition of a dedicated life. For more than forty years. In the service of this community. It is not good to knitty to pay tribute. To. A man who has not only given this time to the city of New York in this region. But has been skilful. Has shown unusual ability. And a great gift. In serving these people and protecting the interests of this great community. It is a chance that we all have to look for a moment. At the kind of skills and ability that this man has. That we may emulate. In the service of this region. I have the right. To call a special attention. To John Kelly. And all of his abilities. Because I didn't have the privilege of selecting. Other leaders of the city in earlier years did that. It is a process that we go through now. With a younger man. In the hopes that we will be as Maryland's he said fortunate enough to select for you and I'm not on behalf of the people. That live in the city now and in the future. Other John Kellys. To work in this manner in this great city. But there are things about John Kelly that we should pause a moment to call attention to. For every state civil servant to recognize. And try to follow in his his path. One is his dedication. He never stops thinking about what he can do to serve the city of New York. But it isn't enough to think about the problems of this city. You have to have some ability some skills if you're going to take care of those problems properly and advance the interests of the city. And then above all. Anyone in public life that is important ask to have the courage. To follow the dictates of his conscience. And the skills that he has to make them come to life. And be creative. In serving the city. I didn't know what kind of a man John Kelly was. When I first met him I was guessing. But I promptly appointed him as managing attorney. Position which he had occupied before in prior administrations. In the confidence that he would be the man and produce in the manner that he has. It as a real create. To be in a position to work with a man like that. Discuss the problems of the city. And try to and often times reach sound decisions that advance the interests of. This community. This is John's day. Of recognition. But all of us in the law department. Have a vicarious pleasure. In this tribute to him. And we take just a small tiny bit. Of. The pride that he has and title to unto ourselves thank you thank you all so that you have. A very good looking at. Thing I'm going to read it. That there is a medal for distinguished performance in the service of the city of New York is awarded to Johnny Kelly John F. Kelly. In recognition of your outstanding contributions toward increasing the effectiveness of the city government service to its people. You have demonstrated outstanding executive ability and leadership in the administrative management of the complex functions of the Law Department thereby contributing significantly toward maintaining a high level of operating efficiency and professional performance your knowledge of jurisprudence by and with your exceptional proficiency as a negotiator and trial counsel and above all your legal practicality have been have been asked to build value in solving complex legal problems and in writ and in resolving diverse vital litigation affecting the health safety and welfare of the people of our city with deepest personal appreciation John B. Lindsey mayor February twenty eighth one thousand nine hundred sixty seven. For. Of. Illinois or at you or her. Mayor Lindsay Mr Reich and I think you'll like and you can but only. A mother and my wife family friends and colleagues know about a week ago Mr Rankin called me into his office late in the evening put out his hand and he said congratulations. Not having any idea of what happened I thought the my eyes oh what did I do now. He told me that I was receiving them my as medal allowed standing savages in the city. And you can believe me that I was somewhat shocked. I felt very much like them follow a supposed. Little one it carries that he lost all lose a case that he won and the only thing that I could think was that somebody wrote a good brief. And then you know about what. I want to thank was the rank and for the opportunity of having worked for. And I certainly would be remiss if I didn't the flying but took you lowly the people leg so closely with me how are you stock you know the wind by you I thought the fox who avoided selflessly over the years to make me look good. You know I feel somewhat over the hill receiving the most valuable player prize but I certainly like them I have very much I thank you for listening. That was New York change and challenge today you heard the ceremonies for the award of the mayor's medal for distinguished performance the recipient was John F. Kelly managing attorney of the law department of New York City others on the program included Mayor John Lindsay and Corporation Council can we invite you to join us again next Wednesday at two thirty for the next transcribed edition of NEW YORK change and the challenge now in the time remaining we listen to waltzes by Andre cost a lot of send his orchestra the music of Richard Rodgers.