Senator James H. Donovan served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Education Committee for 14 years. He also filled the role of chairman for the Committee on Roads and Public Works, the Committee of Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control, as well as the Select Committee on Mentally and Physically Handicapped.
After his death in 1991, Jim Donovan was honored with numerous institutes named in his memory, such as: The Donovan Stadium at Murname Field, the James H. Donovan Science and Technology Building, Senator James Donovan Room, Donovan Memorial Park, Oneida County Republican Committee Headquarters, the James H. Donovan Education Resource Center, and the James H. Donovan Community Center Building.