LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of George Richard Arney, Jr.,
avid fisherman, Town Supervisor and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is with feelings of deepest regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of George Arney, Jr., a preeminent citizen
whose distinguished public service and caring commitment will long serve
as a standard to which others might aspire; and
WHEREAS, George Richard Arney, Jr. of Red Creek, New York died on
January 23rd, 2016, at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, George Richard Arney, Jr. was born on June 19th, 1924 to
George and Georgetta (Garlock) Arney in Cape Vincent, New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1936, George R. Arney, Jr. and his family moved to Sodus
Point, New York, where he attended the Salt Works School; during this
time, he worked at his parents' General Store and sailed his small boat;
and
WHEREAS, George R. Arney, Jr. attended Sodus Central School where he
excelled at basketball, baseball, and soccer; after graduating in 1942,
he became a radio operator in the Merchant Marines during World War II
and throughout his tenure, he made many convoy crossings of the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans on Liberty ships and tankers; and
WHEREAS, After the war, George R. Arney, Jr. returned to Sodus Point
where he worked with his father fishing the waters of Lake Ontario;
through the years, he sold both fish and bait at Arney's Fish Market,
rented boats at Arney's Boat Livery, crewed a tug on the Erie Canal and
Hudson River, and ran a bulldozer and did construction work as well as
drove a malt truck for the Genesee Brewing Company; and
WHEREAS, In 1954, George R. Arney, Jr. founded Arney's Marina where he
built docks for boaters to rent and sold boats and motors; and
WHEREAS, When he was not working on the water, George R. Arney, Jr.
enjoyed playing ball on semi-pro baseball and basketball teams and was a
lifeguard at the Sodus Point beach; in 1948, he married the former
Harriet Smith, and together, they built the foundation and environmental
legacy for Arney's Marina in Sodus Point, New York; and
WHEREAS, George R. Arney, Jr.'s commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, includ-
ing charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to their community, George R. Arney, Jr. and his
wife, Harriet selflessly contributed time to the youth of Sodus Point as
coaches and coordinators of the Sodus Point Community Center and its
youth services program; and
WHEREAS, A natural born coach and mentor, George R. Arney, Jr. love
for the kids of Sodus Point and the role he played in shaping their
future; his concern for the future generations of Sodus Point contrib-
uted greatly to the youth of the town and their development as cooper-
ative citizens of the community; and
WHEREAS, George R. Arney, Jr. was also a proud long-serving volunteer
at the Sodus Point Fire Department and was a faithful member of the
Sodus Point Methodist Church; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, George R. Arney, Jr. was elected Supervisor for the
Town of Sodus, a position he held for 26 years; he held the title of
Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors for seven of those
years; in addition, he served as president of several statewide commis-
sions and societies for county legislators and supervisors; and

WHEREAS, As a civic leader, George R. Arney, Jr. was instrumental in
helping the Town of Sodus and County of Wayne grow in business and
financially prosper while caring for the health and welfare of all its
citizens; he was always quick to acknowledge the assistance he received
from the competent people he worked with on the Town Board, the County
Board, and his collaborators in the State Government; and
WHEREAS, George R. Arney, Jr. was a man whose deep concern, ability to
get things done, and easy way with people provided him with success in
his leadership roles within his community and throughout the State of
New York; he personally knew nearly every resident of the Town of Sodus
and Wayne County; and
WHEREAS, After his much deserved retirement in 1990, George R. Arney,
Jr. returned to the water where he mainly lived on his boat Terangi II,
often taking it to Florida for the winters; after selling his boat, he
lived on the corner of Central Avenue and Bayview Drive in the Village
of Sodus Point; and
WHEREAS, Despite having seen the wonders of the world during his
Merchant Marine service, and the State of New York and the United States
as he traveled during his political and service life, George R. Arney,
Jr. loved every moment of his time on the shores of Sodus Bay and Lake
Ontario; he was a true Sodus Pointer and the proud son of a fisherman;
and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his former wife, Harriet, George R. Arney, Jr.
is survived by his children, Chris and JoEllen, sister, Elsie, five
grandchildren, Jaye, Kristin, Dan, Lisa and Katie and five great-grand-
children, Owen, Sophie, Claire, Norah and Reese; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, George R. Arney, Jr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of George Richard Arney, Jr., avid fisherman, Town
Supervisor and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of George Richard Arney, Jr.