LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Charles A. Ried posthumously for his
dedicated service to The ReHabilitation Center of Cattaraugus County

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant contributions of time and talents through years of dedi-
cated service to organizations which provide opportunities for people
with disabilities by certain esteemed residents of this great Empire
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Charles A. Ried posthumously for his dedicated service to The ReHabili-
tation Center of Cattaraugus County, and committed advocacy on behalf of
developmentally disabled citizens of Cattaraugus County, New York; and
WHEREAS, The son of Charles J. and Clara J. Edel Ried, Charles A. Ried
was born on August 25, 1920, in Olean, New York; he was raised with his
two brothers and two sisters; and
WHEREAS, Charles A. Ried attended Olean High School and St. Bonaven-
ture University; he also served as a First Lieutenant in the United
States Army Air Force from 1943, where he was an instructor of celestial
navigation; and
WHEREAS, Following his military service, Charles A. Ried returned to
Cattaraugus County where he operated meat markets and grocery stores; he
was the founder of Ried's Markets, Inc., and served as president until
his retirement in 1986, operating Ried's Food Barn supermarkets in Olean
and Allegany; and
WHEREAS, Charles A. Ried married Bernadette M. Glass; together they
raised 10 children, Sandra, Joan, David, James, Kathy, Peg, Barbara,
Betsy, Greg and Christopher; they were further blessed with many grand-
children and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Charles A. Ried served as a founding member of the local
chapter of the Association for Help for Retarded Children, which was
renamed the Cattaraugus County Association for Retarded Children upon
New York State certification; the organization provided a day school and
services to children with disabilities and education to the public; they
also organized a day camp and scholarship fund; and
WHEREAS, Charles Ried continued his work as the organization grew to
provide a wide scope of services, transitioning to serve individuals
with a broader range of disabilities; in the late 1970s, the organiza-
tion was renamed the ReHabilitation Center of Cattaraugus County, and
provided a residential program, sheltered employment, outpatient therapy
services, occupational and physical therapy, and increased education
services; and
WHEREAS, In further service to his community, Charles A. Ried served
on the Cattaraugus County Community Services Board for 31 years; he was
the recipient of the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning
Council's 2001 Volunteer of the Year Award, and a YMCA Salute to Olean
honoree in 1991; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize and honor citizens who dedicate themselves to advocating for their
neighbors in this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Charles A. Ried for his years of dedicated service to the ReHabi-
litation Center of Cattaraugus County; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Charles A. Ried.