The Mineral County Day Committee is proud to announce that the 2023 Honoree is:

 

RICHARD “DOC” LECHLITER

2023 MINERAL COUNTY DAY HONOREE

 

 

Dr. Richard Lechliter, most commonly known as “Doc” has been serving Mineral County and the surrounding region for nearly six decades.

 

A graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Recreation, one of Doc’s earliest positions was as a Ranger Naturalist at Canaan Valley State Park where he, in addition to hosting various nature and recreational programs, developed the first nature center for the park.

 

Doc’s interest in nature led him to become involved with the Boy Scouts of America. For more than 57 years, Doc held numerous leadership positions in the Boy Scouts organization, including District Executive, Camp Director, and Program Chair. His personal accomplishment as an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and Outstanding Eagle Scout Award attest to Doc’s dedication and commitment to the Boy Scouts organization.

 

His passion for serving others was not limited to people. Doc also had a love for animals which led him to pursue a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Through his profession as owner/operator of Mountain Springs Veterinary Services, Doc hosted a rabies clinic for Mineral County for nearly 20 years.

 

In his most recent role, Doc served as a Commissioner of Mineral County—a position to which he was elected in 2010 to begin serving in 2011. As County Commissioner, Doc held numerous leadership positions including Board of Health Chair, Farmland Protection Board Chair, and Secretary of the Airport Authority, as well as serving on the Tourism Board.  For the past 12 years, Doc, along with the two other commissioners, have made several improvements to better serve the people of Mineral County. Some of their greatest joint accomplishments have resulted in improved access and relocation of certain county services and stabilization of the county’s finances.

 

Doc’s contributions to Mineral County are not limited to his professional paid positions. He has been serving in various volunteer roles, working tirelessly to help improve the quality of life in our county and state. He has served as Mayor and City Councilman for the Town of Ridgeley, and he has been a member of various civic organizations including the Ridgeley Lions Club, Keyser Rotary Club, Fountain Ruritan Club, and Friends of Jennings Randolph Lake.

 

Mineral County is a better place because of Richard “Doc” Lechliter, and it is with great pride that we name him as the 2023 Mineral County Days Honoree.

 

Past Honorees:

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Dr. Harry Boggs

Clifford Brooks, Sr.

Henry Gassaway Davis

Jonah Edward Kelley

Nancy Hanks

Mayor Doris Marks

Bill Pancake

Mike Price

Dinah Courrier

 

Mineral County’s 150th Anniversary

Don Redman

Jack Rollins

William Shuck, Jr.

Congressman Harley O. Staggers

Gary Wilson