Assembly Resolution No. 536
BY: M. of A. Friend
MOURNING the death of Ronald E. Dougherty,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty of Owego, New York, died on Tuesday,
November 23, 2021, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty was born in Candor, New York, in 1932,
the beloved son of Isabell Kotula; and
WHEREAS, In 1950, Ronald E. Dougherty graduated as the Salutatorian
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty distinguished himself in his profession
and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, He left his family farm and joined IBM in 1957; he retired
in 1987, after a successful career as a functional level manager; and
WHEREAS, In May 1988, he joined the Tioga County Legislature and
became Tioga County Legislative Chairman in 1990, retiring in 1995; and
WHEREAS, He worked for the Tioga County Industrial Development
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty was the initial President of the Rural
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
WHEREAS, While Chairman of the Legislature, with the assistance of
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty's commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty was a member of the Owego Kiwanis and
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
WHEREAS, For 41 years, Ronald E. Dougherty was a School Board
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
WHEREAS, He left the Tioga Central School Board in 1977, and joined
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
WHEREAS, To recognize his exemplary service, BOCES created the
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
WHEREAS, In addition, Ronald E. Dougherty was awarded the BOCES 2006
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty had a firm belief that a person should
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
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Dougherty credited his wife with giving him the
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
WHEREAS, He was born, baptized, and raised in the Baptist church; in
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
WHEREAS, Predeceased by one son, Ronald E. Dougherty, Jr., and one
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 (Sally) Dougherty, Rhonda (Dan)
Christie, Lisa (Brian) Barber, Terrance (Mary) Dougherty, and Kevin
(Michelle) Dougherty; 29 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; one
sister, Gail (Doug) Barton; and two brothers, James (Winanne) Kotula and
Steven (Heather) Kotula; as well as his dear and lifelong friends, Dave
and Doug Fesseden; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Ronald E. Dougherty leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; he will be deeply missed and truly merits the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Ronald E. Dougherty, and to express its deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Ronald E. Dougherty.
