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Riley Cabinet Member Dies

By Gov. Bob Riley's Office

Published: Wed, December 19, 2007 - 2:22 pm Last Updated: Wed, December 19, 2007 - 2:27 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/8238/

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.