James H. Donovan is famous for his 14 year role as chairman of the US Senate Education Committee. However, he served as chairman for many other committees throughout his life. His first experience as chairman was of the Committee on Roads and Public Works. He also served as chairman of the Committee of Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control, and of the Select Committee on Mentally and Physically Handicapped.
In addition to serving in many committees, Senator Donovan was honored with hundreds of awards from groups around New York State. These include, but are not limited to; the Gold Baton Award, the Americanism Award, Construction Man of the Year, the Anne B Gennings Award, the Man of the Year Award and many, many others.