The World Around You

I was fortunate to have known Judge Dorrough well and I thought very highly of him. I share the Governor’s sentiment that he was a good man who worked hard for Alabama’s children, and he will be missed.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the staff at the Department of Children’s Affairs.

MONTGOMERY – Governor Bob Riley regretfully announced Wednesday that Richard Dorrough, who served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet in the position of Commissioner of Children’s Affairs, has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“Commissioner Dorrough was a great man and a very thoughtful leader. He had a heart of gold and throughout his career he worked hard to improve the lives of children. He will be terribly missed,” said Governor Riley.

Governor Riley appointed Dorrough in January 2005. He was instrumental in developing the Governor’s new voluntary First Class Pre-K program, and he helped to further develop the Children’s Policy Councils across the state.

Previously, Dorrough served as the senior judge of the Montgomery County Family Court. He was appointed to the court in 1984 and was elected and re-elected to that office three times. As the presiding judge of the Montgomery County Family Court, Judge Dorrough started numerous programs to assist families and Teen Court to address minor juvenile offenses. In 1998, Judge Dorrough was named “Judge of the Year” by the Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar Association.

Dorrough had been an active leader in civic affairs. He served as chairman of the Children’s Policy Council for Montgomery County and was past president of the Montgomery Kiwanis Club and past lieutenant governor for the Alabama District of Kiwanis. Dorrough received his law degree in 1970 from the University of Alabama School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1967.

Riley Cabinet Member Dies | Mobile AL Alabama Pensacola FL Florida

UPDATE: The Advertiser summed it up well in an editorial this morning.

I’m very familiar with the impaired professionals programs in Alabama, there is one for lawyers and one for doctors that both have excellent directors. These programs are important and the incidents that have come to light need to be evaluated against the large number of professionals who were able to seek help and keep their careers intact at the same time.

Unpartisan.com: Programs Let Addicted Docs Practice