Assemblyman John McGowan (R,C-Rockland) passed his first bill (A.4793) dedicating a portion of the state highway system constituting State Route 340 between Thorpe Drive and State Route 303 in the town of Orangetown, county of Rockland, as the “Doc Schelin Memorial Highway.” “Doc” was a longtime resident of Rockland County and was involved in many leadership positions in the town including the areas of education, local government, public safety and he was known as Tappan’s very own Santa Claus. He was a dedicated member of the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan for 50 years and served as the president and secretary of commissions for the Tappan Fire District. Along with guiding future generations, Doc was a representative for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and dean of student affairs for St. Thomas Aquinas College and was on the Rockland Community College Board of Trustees.

“Doc. Schelin was my faculty advisor at St. Thomas Aquinas College for all four years of college. In addition to assisting me in selecting courses and declaring as a history major, I took every class taught by Doctor Schelin, including his legendary class on the American Presidency. Without a doubt, Doctor Schelin encouraged and strengthened my interest in law and politics, which later shaped my career choices, including the decision to run for elected office in 2019. I will forever be grateful to him as a teacher and mentor and I cannot express the honor it is to have the first bill I passed in the Assembly be dedicated in his memory,” said McGowan.

***To view Assemblyman John McGowan’s full speech, please click here.