December 13, 2011

LEGISLATIVE LEGACY

Milford Mirror - Written by Editorial Staff

State Rep. Richard Roy has certainly left his mark on Milford, and his absence, after he retires next year, will no doubt be noticed.

Roy has become a local celebrity, easily recognized for his white hair and white mustache.

A true gentleman, he will be remembered for a number of legislative initiatives, such as helping to establish the state’s ban on cell phone use and texting while driving, and his considerable work on numerous environmental initiatives.

He was a leader in efforts to prohibit the use of pesticides on school property, and to ban the use of questionable chemicals in the making of baby bottles.

He supported zero tolerance for underage drinkers who then drive, and he worked hard on efforts to properly label genetically modified products sold in the state.

A state legislator since 1992, he decided to retire next year, partly because redistricting puts him outside the 119th District he has represented so long.

Roy has done as much for his city as for the state. Locally, he has served on the Woodmont Day Committee for more than 30 years, three times as co-chairman. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Milford Chamber of Commerce and has been a member and past president of Milford Pride, a member of the Environmental Concerns Coalition, a former volunteer firefighter with the Woodmont Fire Co., an usher at St. Agnes Church, and a member of the parish’s St. Joseph’s Men’s Society.

He received the Milford Pride White Glove Award in 1992, Chamber Director of the Year Award in 1992, the Milford Arts Council Arts Advocacy Award in 1993, and the Environmental Concerns Coalition’s Vision of Milford Award in 1996.

He also received the Safety Leader Award from the National Highway and Auto Safety Council in 1995 and was named “Outstanding Legislator in Reducing Underage Drinking” in 2005.

The list goes on.

We salute Roy for all his hard work on behalf of Milford and state residents.