James Donovan served as chairman of the US Senate Education Committee for fourteen years. He influenced many aspects of New York’s education, and was recognized as a “man of the people.”
After his death, numerous institutes were named in his honor, including the Donovan Stadium at Murnane Field, the James H. Donovan Science and Technology Building, the James H. Donovan Education Resource Center, Donovan Memorial Park, Senator James H. Donovan Room, Oneida County Republican Committee Headquarters and the James H. Donovan Community Center Building.