Senator James Donovan is famous for many roles. He spent 14 years as chairman of the US Senate Education Committee, during which he contributed greatly to New York’s education, and especially to the prevention of teenage pregnancy and illiteracy. He also created the New York City School Construction Authority, allowing the city to begin building new schools.
When James Donovan passed away, Ralph J. Marino, a Senate majority leader, stated that “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was the state’s top priority.”