Posted by Ken Lang '56 on September 24, 2011:

Col. Joseph M. Dougherty, Ret. USAF died Sunday following a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He was a son of the late Mark Alden and Kathleen McQuown Dougherty. After graduating from Glasgow High School, he joined the Air Force. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, then earned a master's degree in English at Vanderbilt University and served as an English professor at the United States Air Force Academy. Joseph flew C123's as a member of the Ranch Hand squadron. On October 31, 1966, he was shot down in Viet Nam, rescued, and awarded the Purple Heart. In 1999, he flew his plane to a national aviation record for touching down in each of the 48 contiguous states in five days, five hours, and eleven minutes. He was a founding member of Tates Creek Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Shirley Smith Dougherty. Four children and their spouses; Mark and Natasha Dougherty, Lenore and Dan Breeden, and Amy Dougherty, all of Lexington, and Jeanie and Paul Dassow, Chattanooga, TN; a brother, William R. (Joan) Dougherty, Nashville, TN; a sister, Louise D. Hensgen, Raleigh, NC; fifteen grandchildren, Joseph (Laura), David, William, Julia, Pauline and Michael Dougherty, Kathleen (Joseph Hudson), Elaine and Caroline Breeden, Amy, Ben, Laura, Anne, Maria and Daniel Dassow, and a great-grandson, Hunter Dougherty. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Jeanette Nelson and Marjorie Underwood. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, September 24th. Memorials can be made to Deacon's Mercy Fund, Tates Creek Presbyterian Church, 3900 Rapid Run Dr., Lexington. The Milward Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements

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