The Dr. William P. Sexton Award - 2016: Les McCarthy

2016: Les McCarthy

With this award, Les McCarthy is honored for his outstanding service to Notre Dame and his embodiment of the University’s values.

A native of Eastchester, New York, McCarthy graduated from Cornell University in 1966 with a business management degree. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and eventually became responsible for all enlisted personnel in the U.S. Army Reserve in New York State.

After completing his military service in 1969, McCarthy worked at a silo construction company in Amenia, New York. He and a business partner later purchased the company, which they expanded into five New England states. McCarthy retired when they sold the company in 2003.

McCarthy then stepped up his involvement in the Notre Dame Club of the Mid-Hudson Valley. He served as the club’s president from 2004 through 2008. Since then, he has taken on special projects for the club, most notably the Hudson Valley ALS Walk, a fund-raiser he organized in 2009. The first walk included 55 club members and friends and raised nearly $5,000. Today, more than 2,000 people participate in the walk annually, with its to-date earnings totaling more than $1.1 million

Other club initiatives that McCarthy has advanced include fundraising and awareness efforts with Catholic Charities Community Services of Dutchess County, Ulster County Catholic Charities, Astor Services for Children and Families, the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir, the University of Notre Dame College of Science, the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, Sisters Under Sail, Steven McDonald NYPD, and the Bruderhof Community.

McCarthy and his wife, Elaine, have two children, Patrick and Meghan, both of whom are Notre Dame graduates.

“I’m honored to accept this award. I accept it in the name of our ND Club of the Mid-Hudson Valley because through our club and its partners all things are possible IF we dream beyond our comfort zone.”