HOF names interim executive director

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees announced today that Canton attorney Ron Dougherty has been appointed the interim executive director of the Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by Board of Trustees Chairman John Muhlbach, Jr. who stated that Dougherty will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Hall of Fame in the absence of current Hall of Fame President John Bankert who remains on an extended medical leave. 

Dougherty, a member of the Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees, also serves as the museum’s general counsel.  A lifelong resident of Canton, he is a graduate of Dartmouth College (1954) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1960).  Dougherty’s Hall of Fame involvement goes back to 1961 when he served as a volunteer member of the civic committee that raised the initial funds to build the pro football museum. 

Deeply involved in community projects, Dougherty was recently honored for his community involvement by the Wilderness Center, a non-profit organization, dedicated to nature education, wildlife conservation, natural history research, and community service.   He was also the 2002 recipient of the Award of Merit from the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce for Community Service.  He has been active in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the United Way of Central Stark County, Stark County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Stark County Board of Elections, the Greater Canton Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scout of America Buckeye Council, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival for which he has served as General Chairman. 

Dougherty has served on the Boards and is the past-president of the Stark County Bar Association, and the Ohio State Bar Foundation.  He and his wife Carole have a daughter Kerry and a son Russell.