Senate Resolution No. 1679
BY: Senator OBERACKER
HONORING former New York State Senator Lloyd
Stephen Riford, Jr., upon the occasion of
celebrating his 100th Birthday
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commemorate
and recognize certain milestones celebrated by citizens of this great
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., upon the occasion of his 100th
Birthday to be celebrated on Thursday, February 29, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Born in Auburn, New York, on February 29, 1924, Lloyd
Stephen "Steve" Riford, Jr., graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and
Princeton University; he proudly served his country in World War II as
an ambulance driver in the Middle Eastern and European Theaters; and
WHEREAS, After returning from the War, Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr.,
became heavily involved in the agricultural sector, particularly the
dairy industry, serving as President of Auburn Guernsey Farms, a large
dairy operation, and Greystone Farms, a Guernsey breeding farm; he was
Director of Purchasing and Corporate Secretary of the Beacon Milling
Company, milling, preparing, and supplying animal feed to farms all over
Central New York; he also served as President of a feed ingredient
business, Riford, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Always civic-minded, and desirous to serve his community,
Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., filled many roles: the first chairman of the
Cayuga County Planning Board; an organizer of the Central New York
Regional Planning Board; a member of the Cayuga County Environmental
Management Council, the Board of Auburn Memorial Hospital, and the
Auburn YMCA; and a trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, Because of his dedication and activities in a broad array
of civic endeavors, Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., was sought as a candidate
for the 125th Assembly District, which included Cayuga and Cortland
Counties, in 1970 and won the election in a heated four-way race in a
difficult year, defeating the incumbent; and
WHEREAS, During his Assembly tenure, Assemblyman Lloyd Stephen
Riford, Jr., became an advocate for the needs of local governments and
the agricultural sector; he was also a ranking member of the Assembly
Ways and Means Committee; and
WHEREAS, Due to the presence of a state maximum correctional
facility in his district, Assemblyman Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., gained
significant knowledge and was considered an authority on matters
pertaining to the State's correctional system; he was asked to chair an
Assembly task force on New York State's correctional facilities,
particularly following the 1971 riot at the Attica Correctional Facility
which spawned important reforms in the New York State's penal and
correctional laws and the treatment of incarcerated individuals; and
WHEREAS, After being re-elected to the Assembly by wide margins five
consecutive times, Assemblyman Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., ran for
election in 1982, contending for the newly created 50th Senatorial
District seat, which included the counties of his Assembly district with
the addition of Chenango, Otsego, and Tompkins Counties, and won the
race handily; and
WHEREAS, Acknowledged for his expertise in agriculture and broad
knowledge of the dairy industry, Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., was
immediately named Chairman of a new Senate subcommittee on the dairy
industry; charged with evaluating the problems of New York State's dairy
community, he led the subcommittee to propose important remedial
measures for the dairy industry, and his advocacy led the State
Legislature to create the bipartisan Legislative Commission on Dairy
Industry Development; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., was named
Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee where he focused attention
on the needs of the broader agricultural sector, including New York
State's grape growing and wine industry; and
WHEREAS, Of particular note during his tenure, as Chairman of the
Senate Subcommittee on the State College of Veterinary Medicine, was his
success in rescuing the State's veterinary school from losing its
accreditation, a loss that would have devastated the health and safety
of farm animals and severely damaged efforts to research and eradicate
animal diseases like brucellosis and Johne's Disease; and
WHEREAS, On the Senate Higher Education Committee, and as a Senator
at the time, representing the district with the most institutions of
higher education, Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., pressed for
continued State support for SUNY and private schools in the face of
proposed budget cuts; and
WHEREAS, Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., was married to the late
Susan Crawford; together, they had three children: Suzanne Riford Toman,
L.S. "Sandy" Riford, III, and Tom Riford; in 1999, he was married to
the late Joan Chayka; and
WHEREAS, After two productive and successful terms, Senator Lloyd
Stephen Riford, Jr., retired from the New York State Senate in 1986;
subsequent to returning to his farm and business at Half Acre outside
Auburn for several years, he and his wife finally retired to Hawaii
where he still resides; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly
recognize those who have reached such a remarkable age and who have
witnessed and celebrated the innovations, cultural developments, and
achievements of this country during the last century, while themselves
contributing to the growth and excellence of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor former New York State Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr., upon the
occasion of celebrating his 100th Birthday, expressing the collective
gratitude of the Members of this body for his service to the New York
State Assembly and Senate and wishing him a joyous and blessed 100th
Birthday celebration with family and friends; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Senator Lloyd Stephen Riford, Jr.
