Senator William Larkin, podium, bids a fond farewell as he retires
after serving 40 years in the state legislature
NEWBURGH – State Senator William was given a hero’s farewell
on New Year’s Eve day as his 40-years of service in the State Assembly
and Senate come to an end. The Cornwall-on-Hudson resident, who turns
91 in February, is retiring.
Friends, relatives and supporters joined in for a royal sendoff to the
lawmaker.
Prior to representing the region in Albany, Larkin was New Windsor town
supervisor and served in the US Army for 24 years, retiring at the rank
of lieutenant colonel.
He served in World War II and Korea as well as held posts at the Pentagon
and the Stewart Army Base.
During his Army career, Larkin helped protect President John F. Kennedy
on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King, Jr. when escorting one
of the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama during the Civil Rights
Movement.
Among the medals earned, Larkin was awarded the Legion of Merit and seven
Army Commendation Medals.
During his tenure in the state legislature, he was instrumental in securing
funding to construct the Kaplan Center at the SUNY Orange Newburgh campus,
was a driving force in creating the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New
Windsor as well as facilitating the development of the Newburgh Armory
Unity Center in Newburgh.
Assemblyman James Skoufis will replace Larkin in the Senate in this next
two-year term.
