Key figures celebrated at Herkimer County Community College’s 2019 Torchbearer Awards ceremony

Four icons in Herkimer County Community College’s history were recently celebrated at the 2019 Torchbearer Awards ceremony. The Torchbearer Awards have been presented every five years since 1999 to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to the College’s development, with particular attention given to those whose contributions were made in the first 20 years of the College’s history.

The recipients of the 2019 Herkimer College Torchbearer Awards were: Jeanne Galvin of Richfield Springs, NY; the late Thomas W. Lenahan, who was honored posthumously; Donald J. Snyder, Esq. of West Winfield, NY; and President Emeritus Dr. Ronald F. Williams of Herkimer, NY. At the ceremony, President Cathleen McColgin praised the recipients for their “hard work and belief in our college and our students” and how these individuals “helped make Herkimer County Community College the great institution of higher education that it is today.”

Jeanne Galvin joined the faculty in 1971 and organized and coached the field hockey, volleyball, women’s basketball, and softball teams. Galvin wrote the rules of competition for two-year women's collegiate athletics and garnered acceptance of junior college women's sports by the New York State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW). Later, when the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) expanded to include women, Galvin became regional director for women’s athletics and served as chair of the National Field Hockey Committee. She also served as president of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Donald Dutcher, Herkimer College dean of students and director of athletics, spoke highly of Galvin, who was coaching at the College while Dutcher was a student. Dutcher said Galvin became “a driving force in New York State to increase opportunities for female athletes at all levels—and especially at Herkimer County Community College.” Galvin’s impact on athletics is still felt today with current students, such as softball player and Student Government Association President Briana Hoskins, who recognized Galvin for shaping the program into “one of the best junior college athletic programs in the country.”

Under Galvin’s leadership, Herkimer’s field hockey program won the first national title in the history of the college in 1987, and another national title in 1991. Galvin was named NJCAA Field Hockey Coach of the Year both years. She coached the women’s basketball team for 17 years, winning the regional championship in 1979 and 1980, and was named Regional Coach of the Year both times.

Thomas W. Lenahan began his tenure at Herkimer County Community College in 1984 and was promoted through the ranks to professor, working to develop the criminal justice curriculum into one of the most respected programs in the state. A key focus of Lenahan’s efforts was the introduction and development of cutting-edge programs to ensure the College’s curriculum was keeping pace with the rapidly changing field of criminal justice.

Lenahan received the Richard B. Lewis Service Award for service to the Criminal Justice Educators Association of New York State (1998) and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2000). Upon his retirement in 2007, he was granted emeritus status by the College Board of Trustees.

“It was apparent from day one that Professor Lenahan was an individual who had a lifetime of experience to share in the classroom and whose enthusiasm for teaching fostered a learning environment that was second to none,” said Herkimer County District Attorney Jeffrey Carpenter. Carpenter was one of Lenahan’s students at the College and nominated him for the award. “Tom’s legacy continues to thrive in the hundreds, if not thousands, of law enforcement officers he taught and who continue to serve their respective communities.”

Donald J. Snyder, Esq. has been involved in the College’s development since its founding. Snyder “doesn’t just say the College means something to him, he lives it with his actions, commitment, and his generosity,” said Julie Lewis, director of business and finance for the College’s Faculty-Student Association, Housing Corp., and the Herkimer County College Foundation. As a new attorney over 50 years ago, Snyder reviewed building site proposals and was assigned the task of checking the title on the property where the College is now located. He was a member of the College’s Board of Trustees for 22 years (1991–2013), including serving as chairman for 10 years, and served as a member of the College’s Housing Corporation Board. Snyder is also an emeritus member of the Herkimer County College Foundation Board.

“Herkimer College’s founding, present and future make up one glorious place,” said current fine arts student Todd Maphia who spoke about the impact of Snyder’s work on his student experience. “Without it, I wouldn’t have made the friends that I have, gained the knowledge I’ve learned, or have become the person standing before you.”

In 2004, Snyder graduated with highest honors from Herkimer College with a degree in fine arts, and in 2016 he was inducted into the Herkimer College Alumni Wall of Honor. Snyder played a leading role in the construction of the Technology Center, the building of Wehrum Stadium, the renovation and expansion of the College Center and the Library Building, the construction of the Reservoir Run student residential housing units, and the development of the Gaynor Science Center, for which he helped secure substantial funding to finalize the Elements Campaign.

“From the beginning, all of the great men and women who shared that same vision of moving forward with a singular purpose of making this college a premier institution is self-evident,” Snyder said as he accepted the award. “I am honored to have done my small part, and I thank you for this distinguished honor.”

Dr. Ronald F. Williams served as the College’s president for 22 years (1986–2008) and received the title of president emeritus following his retirement. Williams provided strong, visionary leadership and contributed to the growth and success of the institution in every sphere of its operations. In the process, he raised the College’s reputation as an outstanding public two-year institution of higher education.

Under his leadership, the College completed construction of Wehrum Stadium, expanded the Library Building that now bears his name, constructed the Technology Center, and developed three sets of student housing units that established Herkimer as a leader among residential community college campuses. Williams also made lasting contributions to a wide range of programming areas including international recruitment, online learning, and several leading academic programs. He was also instrumental in forging connections among the College and the communities of the Mohawk Valley.

Williams’ wife, Suzanne Williams, spoke for him during the ceremony acknowledging his greatest accomplishments with the College. Williams always kept each student in mind and supported them with “personal encouragement and compassion,” recounted Mrs. Williams. The former president also contributed a great deal to athletics. When Dr. Williams found out that the soccer team had to play its biggest games at a high school stadium, he pursued the construction of a “state-of-the-art soccer and lacrosse stadium that is better than most NCAA Division I, II, and II schools across the country,” recalled Pepe Aragon, head coach of the College’s men’s soccer team. Michael Oriolo also spoke highly of Dr. Williams’ dedication to the College. “No one can ever question your dedication and commitment to this institution, and for that we are forever grateful to you.”

The 2019 Torchbearer Awards were presented at a ceremony at the College on Sept. 27.