- Last Updated on Saturday, 31 August 2013 23:12
The 27th annual Charleroi Federal Little Great Race on Saturday, September 7 will take on special meaning for the family and friends of the late Robert (Bob) Daugherty.
“Bob had supported and sponsored the Little Great Race in years past and we feel this is a very appropriate time to get together and honor his memory,” said Paul Strelick of Rochester, New York, one of the organizers of the tribute. “It is designed to be a celebration of Bob’s life and how his presence on earth benefitted and impacted so many people.”
Daugherty, a 1959 graduate of Charleroi High School, where he was an outstanding halfback with the Cougars football team, died at age 70 on Friday, April 27, 2012. He had lived in Carroll Township for many years.
The son of the late Robert Daugherty and Dolores (Patrick) Daugherty, he played football at Charleroi High for three years. As a senior in 1958, he won the Mon Valley Conference individual scoring championship and earned numerous post-season honors including All-Conference, All-WPIAL and All-State recognition. He received a football scholarship to West Virginia University and played there before graduating in 1963.
Daugherty graduated from the University of Pittsburgh DT Watson School of Physical Therapy in 1965. He had a private practice as a physical therapist.
“Bob wore many hats and wore all of them well,” said Strelick, a 1960 graduate of Charleroi High School, where he was a teammate of Daugherty. “He was a great athlete, a local businessman, and a staunch supporter of his family, friends and many community events including the Little Great Race.”
Pete Ferrara of Donora, who is co-coordinator of the September 7 tribute, offered similar sentiments. “As a physical therapist, Bob was devoted to his patients and was respected for his quality of care and compassion,” Ferrara said. “He was a man of many talents and qualities and a good friend in every sense of the word.”
Strelick said the informal gathering honoring Daugherty will begin “shortly after” all Daugherty Team runners and walkers complete the course – e.g., between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. - at the pavilions the Trustees Park adjacent to Chamber Plaza in Charleroi.” The 5-K race begins at 8:15 a.m.
“Those who want to join us in remembering Bob do not have to run or walk in the Little Great Race, although some of his friends will be participating,” Strelick said. “We are just extending an open invitation to join us and Bob’s wife Luann (Amodie) and their family to share the fond memories everyone has of Bob.”
Ferrara said commemorative t-shirts are being created for the event and will be available to all who attend the memorial tribute, “not just the team participating in the race.”
He, Strelick and others organizing the gathering are requesting a donation of $20 per person to help cover the costs of the t-shirts, food, the race program and website memorial ads for Daugherty.
Donations can be sent to and additional information obtained from Strelick, 130 Mill Run Drive, Rochester, NY 14626, 585-227-0112, pstreli1@rochester.rr.com, or Ferrrara, 803 Thompson Avenue, Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-7878, ferrarapc@yahoo.com.
Information about the Little Great Race is available at www.littlegreatrace.com or by contacting Vic Vitale at the Vic Vitale Insurance Agency, 724-489-4435.
