Randolph A. 'Skip' Gregory

Randolph A. “Skip” Gregory died on Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Harbor Chase Nursing Home, Venice, Florida. He was 84.
Son of Amos and Edith Parker Gregory, he was born on Dec. 22, 1931, in Port Jervis, N.Y. He was a lifetime resident of Milford, graduating from Milford High School in 1949. He attended the University of Scranton and the Chrysler Business Management Training Program. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953.
After his father died in 1949, he became President of Gregory’s Garage as one of the youngest Chrysler-Plymouth Dealers in the United States. He operated the garage until 1985, when the building was renovated to the Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits Store. In 1992 he built a self-service gas station/convenience store at 114 West Harford Street.
As president of Milford Development, a Milford real estate and rental development, Skip in 1961 built a Grand Union Store at 100 West Harford Street. In 1993 the Grand Union was renovated to accommodate the “Old Tyme” Drug Store. Today the Rite Aid Store is located there.
In 1978 Skip became president of 739 Corporation upon building one of Pike County’s first self-service gas station, located at Lords Valley, with the first day of business July 14, 1978. He thought advertising the location of the gas station might have been a problem. Then on a trip to Florida, he noticed the advertising logo signs on the interstate highway in Georgia. These logo signs might be the answer for Pennsylvania advertising on the interstates. With the help of Warner Depuy, Secretary of Revenue for Pennsylvania, a call was made to Harrisburg to set up an appointment for Skip to meet with the Deputy Secretary of Transportation. The Secretary thought I-84 would be a good test road for Pennsylvania’s logo signs, as it was a short piece of road and would not be a major expense for the state to install. The logo signs were so successful, the program was expanded to the other interstates in Pennsylvania at no cost to the state, since each business advertising on the logo sign were required to pay a fee.
Skip served as Mayor of the Borough of Milford from 1979 to 1985. During his term, he was instrumental in establishing a central dispatching center for the police and fire companies.
From 1988 to 1992, he served as chair of the Pike County Board of Commissioners. During his tenure, a previous bond issue was refinanced, saving Pike County over $1 million; a county jail site was purchased in Blooming Grove Township; a road task force was formed that facilitates communication for road improvements and the County Emergency Radio Communications for police, fire and emergency medical services was expanded and improved. In 1989 the 175th anniversary celebration of Pike County’s founding was held.
Skip has been a member of the Milford Lodge #344 Free and Accepted Masons since 1953, serving as Master of Milford Lodge in 1962 during the Lodge’s 100-year anniversary.
In 1953, Skip joined the Milford Volunteer Fire Department. During his tenure as president the current Milford Fire Department building was constructed opening in 1962. In 2014, Milford Fire Chief Tony Mann presented to Skip a certificate of recognition for his 60 years of volunteer service.
Also in 1953 Skip was involved with the development of the Milford Midget Baseball League.
He served on the board of trustees for the Milford Community House since 1961 to the present, holding the offices of president and treasurer.
In 1958, he began a hobby of collecting post cards with special emphasis on the Milford area. In 2007, his book “All Roads Lead to Milford, Pennsylvania — Postcards from the Past” was published, the first printing of 2000 books was sold out and a second printing was completed in a 2015.
On Oct. 10, 2010 Skip was inducted into The Delaware Valley High School Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments since his graduation in 1949.
At the annual fundraising dinner for the Pike County Library in 2015, Skip was recognized for his continuous support and service to the library.
Skip and Lorraine enjoyed travel to many states as well as Antigua. In 1999 a home was purchased in Venice, Florida, then Skip and Lorraine became “snowbirds,” spending the winter months in Florida.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Lorraine; his daughter, Randi Marie Short and her husband, Michael, of Spring Lake, N.J.; son, Raymond Brown and his wife, Lori, of Hardeeville, S.C.; four grandchildren, Michael Short, Mary Kate Short, Corry Short, and David Brown; plus several cousins.
Visitation was held at Stroyan’s Funeral Home, Milford, on June 23 and 24. A funeral service was held at Milford Presbyterian Church on June 25, followed by burial at Milford Cemetery in Dingman Township, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of the following organizations: Pike County Public Library, 119 East Harford, St., Milford, PA 18337; Milford Fire Department, P.O. Box 1369, Milford, PA; Milford Lodge #344, P.O. Box 1525, Milford, PA; or Tidewell Hospice, 12034 North Access Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981.