by Cathie Skivers
On October the 6th, 2016 CCB had its 82nd birthday! On that date in 1934, the formation meeting of our organization was held in Fresno. CCB has gone through
some good times and bad times. A lot of changes have taken place, and thanks to the determination and dedication of many of our members, we have been leaders
in California and throughout the country.
Many of you new and remember George Fogarty--he is in our hall of fame. He died after a long illness on October 25, 2003.
He is someone that holds a special spot in the hearts of me and my family. He was the rehab counselor who helped me get into my job at the IRS. Without
it I couldn't have been able to keep my sons with me when we lost Jack in 1976.
George had many duties in CCB. Before 1959 when he withdrew from CCB and became part of the group who started the Associated Blind of California where
50% of CCB members moved to the Federation, he served as White Cane Week chairman. This major fund-raiser, centered around White Cane Safety Day, featured
the mailing of 100,000 letters to Californians. When I became WCW chair, we mailed out 200,000 letters, and our history doesn't fail to note that Martha
Lovina Fogarty addressed every one of those letters for probably ten years. They were all typed and took countless hours.
In the many documents we collected is a resolution which give those of you who didn't know him a look at what those who knew him well. I include is below.
Resolution 2002-14 George Fogarty
Whereas, George l. Fogarty is both a charter and lifetime member of the American Council of the Blind; and
whereas, George Fogarty has dedicated his life to advocating on behalf of blind and visually impaired people; and
Whereas, George Fogarty is a native of California, born on June 12, 1911; and
Whereas, although George Fogarty has usable vision, he has been a lifelong supporter and user of braille; and
Whereas, George had an outstanding and lengthy career as a counselor-teacher and job placement officer for the California Department of Education and rehabilitation;
and
Whereas, during these years of service, he started a vending program at the California School for the Blind to encourage students to use their skills in
mathematics and braille, to increase their socialization skills by working with the public, and to raise their self-esteem; and
Whereas, this class was especially popular because the students shared the profits at the end of each school year; and
Whereas, he assisted hundreds of people to acquire employment, pioneering the placement of blind and visually impaired individuals as hospital dark-room
X-ray developers, medical transcribers, shipyard workers, and Internal Revenue Service employees; and
Whereas, George served as president and treasurer of his state affiliate, and in various capacities within the American Council of the Blind; and
Whereas, he and Lovinia, his late wife of 49 years, worked tirelessly raising funds during White Cane Week, which were shared equally between the California
Council of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind; and
Whereas, he is, and always has been, most generous in sharing not only his time talents and money, but in freely dispensing Jack Daniels and other good
libations, as any good Irishman should; and
Whereas, his warm personality and beautiful renditions of Irish and other music have endeared him to clients and friends alike; and
whereas, he greatly desired to attend the convention in Houston, but his hearing loss that impedes his participation in convention activities and his interaction
with friends prevented him doing so,
Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled this 4th day of July, 2002, at the Adam's Mark Hotel, in
Houston, Texas that this organization congratulate George L. Fogarty on his dedication and years of service on behalf of persons who are blind or visually
impaired and on behalf of the American Council of the Blind, and let him know that he is loved, respected, and missed at this 2002 convention.
