Foundation Names Citizens Laureate

By Christine Hanson McKnight

Community leaders Kenneth T. and Thelma Perkins Lally �48, former Albany Mayor Thomas M. Whalen III, and recently retired Skidmore College President David H. Porter will receive the University at Albany Foundation�s 1999 Citizen Laureate Awards on Saturday, April 24, at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs. The Lallys and Whalen are the community laureates; Porter is academic laureate.

Kenneth Lally began his career with General Electric in Schenectady. In 1964, he purchased the financially struggling W.L. & L.E. Gurley Co. (now Gurley Precision Instruments, Inc.) and quickly restored it to financial health. In 1968, he sold Gurley to Teledyne, Inc. He later served as president of Coradian Corp. and has been involved with many Capital Region "startup" companies. A founder of the Capital Region Technology Development Council, Lally served as trustee of Troy Savings Bank, RPI, the Troy Chamber of Commerce, Samaritan and Ellis hospitals, and Proctor�s Theater.

Albany alumna Thelma Lally was an elementary school teacher in the Niskayuna School District for 26 years. She has been active in many community and civic organizations, including the Ellis Hospital Foundation Board, the Schenectady Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Sunnyview Hospital Auxiliary, Proctor�s Guild, Knights of Malta, Saratoga Performing Arts Center Council, and Teresian House.

In 1995, the Lallys donated $15 million to the school of management at RPI, which was renamed in their honor. They have also made large donation to Samaritan and St. Clare�s hospitals, and to support a new residential center for Alzheimer�s patients at The Eddy.

Whalen, Albany mayor 1983-1993, has a 30-year record of community service, including terms on the University at Albany Foundation board and the University Council. Currently a member of Albany Law School�s board of trustees, Community Foundation of the Capital Region and the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, he played a vital role in establishing Camp Opportunities, Inc., a free summer camp for inner-city children. He also helped to create the Commission on the Capital Region and the Arbor Hill Community Center.

In 1989, he received the University�s Distinguished Service Medallion. He has received numerous other awards, including the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish National Fund, the M.L. King Distinguished Achievement Award, and Albany Law School�s Alumni Gold Medal.

Porter stepped down as Skidmore College president in December 1998 after 11½ years. He is currently carrying out research and writing in his two areas of scholarship, classics and music, at Williams College. Porter led Skidmore to the successful conclusion of its five-year "Journey Campaign," which more than doubled the college�s endowment and surpassed its original $78 million goal by $8.5 million.

A Swarthmore College and Princeton University alumnus, Porter is an accomplished pianist and harpsichordist, and author of five books and monographs. He has received NEH, Woodrow Wilson and Danforth fellowships, and a Carleton College Second Century Award.