Profiles in Service - April 16, 2018

William E. Cherry

Board Member

Treasurer
Schoharie County, N.Y.

Number of years involved in NACo: 22

Years in Public Service: 35 years- at the county, town and village levels

Occupation: Chief financial officer of Schoharie County

Education: B.S in public administration (finance and economics)

The hardest thing I’ve ever done is: Be a parent. You want to do everything perfectly, but it is a ‘learn-as-you-go’ experience. In the end though…the hardest challenge in life also brings the most joy in life!

Three people (living or dead) I’d invite to dinner: My mother, who passed away in 2005: She was my best friend as well as my mentor; President Franklin Roosevelt: for being one of the leaders of the ‘Greatest Generation’ that saved the world; 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace: I always admired his honest journalism.

I dream I have is to: Travel across the U.S. in a motorhome with my wife to visit national monuments like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park.  

You’d be surprised to learn that I: Spent 12 years operating a printing press. When I wake up dreaming about a crisis at my job, it’s not about being a county treasurer: It’s usually a panic about running out of ink.

The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done is: Become a certified Search and Rescue scuba diver

My favorite way to relax is to: Sit on a beach with a good book and look at the ocean.

My favorite meal is: Plain old New York-style pizza.   

I’m most proud of: My family: I have five terrific grown kids and seven wonderful grandchildren. I’m proud of each and every one of them.       

Every morning I read: My daily local newspaper and then analyze stock market futures online.      

My pet peeves are: Aggressive drivers and tailgaters.  

My motto is: “Adversity builds character.”  

The last book I read was: Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

My favorite movie is: Unforgiven. 

My favorite music is: Christmas music as well as the occasional ‘oldie’.    

My favorite U.S. president is: Abraham Lincoln.

My county is a NACo member because: We believe in constantly improving county government, and we are always looking for more efficient and cost-effective ways of delivering services to the public. I have found that exchanging best practice ideas with my colleagues at NACo from all around the country can result in real, measurable savings for our taxpayers.