New York K 536: Mourning the death of Ronald E. Dougherty, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

Bill Text

Assembly Resolution No. 536
M. of A. FriendBY:
the death of Ronald E. Dougherty,MOURNING
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community
It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute toWHEREAS,
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and
Ronald E. Dougherty of Owego, New York, died on Tuesday,WHEREAS,
November 23, 2021, at the age of 89; and
Ronald E. Dougherty was born in Candor, New York, in 1932,WHEREAS,
the beloved son of Isabell Kotula; and
In 1950, Ronald E. Dougherty graduated as the SalutatorianWHEREAS,
of his class and married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Drury, on
December 5th of that same year in the little church around the corner in
New York City; and
Ronald E. Dougherty distinguished himself in his professionWHEREAS,
and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
He left his family farm and joined IBM in 1957; he retiredWHEREAS,
in 1987, after a successful career as a functional level manager; and
In May 1988, he joined the Tioga County Legislature andWHEREAS,
became Tioga County Legislative Chairman in 1990, retiring in 1995; and
He worked for the Tioga County Industrial DevelopmentWHEREAS,
Association (IDA) on the Lounsbury Development Site and was instrumental
in establishing the Best Buy Warehouse Building and the Initial Anchor
Terminal in Lounsbury; and
Ronald E. Dougherty was the initial President of the RuralWHEREAS,
Economics Area Partnership (REAP), and the Tioga County Council of Local
Governments; he and his partner, Steve Hendrickson, were involved, along
with others, in the Owego Pool Project and in establishing the Municipal
Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA); and
While Chairman of the Legislature, with the assistance ofWHEREAS,
the late Glen Carter, he helped establish the Council of Economic
Development and Planning; he was also on the Tioga County Soil and Water
and Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the Tioga County Bank Board, and the
Board of Sayre Guthrie Clinic; and
Ronald E. Dougherty's commitment to excellence, and hisWHEREAS,
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

Ronald E. Dougherty was a member of the Owego Kiwanis andWHEREAS,
Elks; on September 2014, to honor his many contributions to Tioga
County, the Tioga County Legislature renamed the municipal building on
56 Main Street in Owego, the Ronald E. Dougherty Building; and
For 41 years, Ronald E. Dougherty was a School BoardWHEREAS,
member, joining the Tioga Central School Board in 1966; two years later
he was elected President of the Board and in this capacity, led the 1972
construction of the current Tioga Central High School; and
He left the Tioga Central School Board in 1977, and joinedWHEREAS,
the Broom Tioga BOCES Board of Education where he served as President
from 1985-2005, including being named New York State School Board Member
of the Year in 1995; and
To recognize his exemplary service, BOCES created theWHEREAS,
annual Ronald E. Dougherty Award, bestowed upon an employee who best
exemplifies the spirit and dedication that were the hallmarks of his
many years of service to both the school and his community; and
In addition, Ronald E. Dougherty was awarded the BOCES 2006WHEREAS,
President Recognition Award, Boy Scouts of America 1997 Outstanding
Citizen, Candor Bicentennial Recognition, 2000 Congressional Recognition
Award, IBM 25 Year Service Award, Jim Bostwick Agricultural Award, Mario
Cuomo 1992 Law, New York State Rural Schools Anne Paulin 2006
Distinguished Service Award, Ronald Dougherty Day Proclamation by Mayor
Fink in 2000, Rotary 1998 Paul Harris Award, TC3 Friends of the College
Award and Plaque in 2004, Tioga County 2001 Rural Ministry Award Plaque,
and Tioga County 2000 Senior Citizen of the Year Plaque; and
Ronald E. Dougherty had a firm belief that a person shouldWHEREAS,
leave their world better than they found it, and he used his talents to
make Tioga County a better place to live in and raise a family; and
Ronald E. Dougherty credited his wife with giving him theWHEREAS,
ability to do for his community, the acts of service he was so gifted to
be able to share with the community he so loved; and
He was born, baptized, and raised in the Baptist church; inWHEREAS,
adulthood, he raised 10 children with his wife in the Roman Catholic
Church, and was officially welcomed into the Catholic church by way of
the RCIA program in 2002; at the time of his death, Ronald E. Dougherty
was a parishioner at St Patrick's Church in Owego; and
Predeceased by one son, Ronald E. Dougherty, Jr., and oneWHEREAS,
great-grandson, Odin Dougherty, Ronald E. Dougherty is survived by his
wife of 71 years, Brenda Dougherty; 10 children, Mary (Al) Wolski,
Patrick (Cindy) Dougherty, Colleen (Roger) Anderson, Daniel (Laura)
Dougherty, John (Cathy) Dougherty, Brian (Sa