Lamar Township Business Park dedicated to William Garbrick Sr.

MACKEYVILLE, PA – “Someday we’ll look back and smile and know it was worth every mile.” Bill Garbrick Jr. finished his touching remembrance of his late father with that lyric from a Chris Stapleton song on Friday as the Clinton County Economic Partnership formally dedicated the William Garbrick Sr. Lamar Township Business Park.

Family, friends and elected officials attended the formal unveiling of the Garbrick name atop the business park sign. As Partnership CEO Mike Flanagan noted, such events don’t happen often; the last was for the Clinton County Economic Partnership Business Park in Wayne Township, renamed 21 years ago for late Partnership CEO Harold Sweeney.

The elder Garbrick, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 80, was recognized for his years of service to the community, including 58 years as a founding member of the Lamar Township Fire Company and 35 years as a township supervisor. Flanagan acknowledged his many community contributions and said, “more importantly, he was a great man.”

Bill Garbrick Jr. told of the many phone calls received at the family home while the Garbrick children were growing up and how his father always responded, no matter the hour.

Clinton County Commissioner Jeff Snyder related the story about Garbrick’s involvement with the township fire company. As a founding member, Garbrick mortgaged the Garbrick home to purchase the company’s first fire truck. Snyder said he could imagine Garbrick telling wife Judy that, “It’s okay, honey, the fire company voted if we lose our house, we can stay at the fire hall.”

Garbrick’s service to the community was recognized in separate state House and Senate citations, the former from state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, the latter from Deb Rudy from the office of state Sen. Cris Dush.