Jeff Sinyard, Jack Stone honored during farewell gathering

ALBANY — As he stared out at a roomful of friends, colleagues and admirers who’d come to salute him on his final day as an elected official, an emotional Jeff Sinyard offered a simple comment that many would suggest serves as a perfect summary of his career.

“The last 30 years, I’ve been given the greatest gift you can receive … the opportunity to make a difference,” Sinyard said.

State and local officials as well as friends and colleagues in the business community came to the downtown Albany Government Center Monday morning to give Sinyard and fellow commissioner Jack Stone a proper send-off. The two were on hand to complete their last scheduled commission business, ending careers that span a collective 58 years.

“It’s been a long journey,” Stone said after receiving proclamations of appreciation from the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County and the state Legislature as well as a commemorative plaque from the County Commission. “I can honestly say that over the last 28 years, I’ve done the best I could do. There have been some rough times, but it’s been a heck of a lot of fun, too.”

District 1 County Commissioner Lamar Hudgins presented Stone with a unique gift: A “South County Line Road” road sign to commemorate “Jack’s call, year after year, for the paving of that one road.”

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital CEO Joel Wernick presented Stone the Hospital Authority proclamation, and Rep. Gerald Greene did the honors on behalf of the area’s state legislative delegation.

Among the dignitaries who offered remarks commemorating Sinyard’s service were Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, former Mayor Willie Adams, Wernick, Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker, AB&T President Luke Flatt, Greene and Hudgins.

“At some point in the game, you need a timeout,” Hubbard said. “Jeff, you’ve earned this timeout, but, Lord knows, I’m going to miss you.”

Wernick referenced the Rudyard Kipling poem “If,” declaring Sinyard had “used the full 60 seconds of every minute” and had “walked with kings without losing the common touch.”

Parker called the outgoing commission chairman “Mr. Reliable,” noting, “Jeff is always there when you need him and sometimes before you need him,” and Hudgins called his commission colleague, “the epitome of the scripture” that calls for a man to do whatever he does with all his heart.

Saying Sinyard has “a passion like no one I’ve ever met,” Flatt said Sinyard had “willed this community forward when many of us thought it couldn’t go forward.”

At times tearing up during closing remarks, Sinyard said, “The amazing people of Dougherty County have been the greatest thing about these 30 years.”