Shipley, Dooly receive top honors from Darby Rangers chapter of the MOAA

Fort Smith businessmen and decorated war veterans Harry Shipley and Billy Dooly received the Distinguished Patriotic Achievement Award from the General William Darby Rangers Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

The formal presentation of the awards was held Friday (Jan. 29) during the Noon Exchange Club meeting at Fianna Hills Country Club in Fort Smith.

Shipley served in World War II and received the Bronze Star for heroism in leading his intelligence and reconnaissance platoon. He also was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a village along the Siegfried Line near Aachen, Germany. He was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge.

After rehab he attended the American Institute of Baking in Chicago, where he learned the baking trade. He joined his father at the Shipley Baking Co. in Fort Smith in 1946 and trained in sales and production. He held various positions from 1946 until 2000. His 54-year career in the bakery eventually landed him as president of Shipley Baking.

He credits his military training and service with equipping him to become a CEO & during his tenure he expanded the company from a small operation to multi-state enterprise selling products in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

He served multiple terms on the board of directors of the W. Long Company, a national baker co-op organization. He was active with the American Institute of Baking, writing several articles for publication in their national trade magazine. When the business was sold in 1996 it had 350 employees and was worth more than $20 million.

Shipley’s work and support of civic & charitable organizations includes:
• Support and leadership of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys Club & Girls Club. He is an Eagle Scout.

• Chairman of the Board of Administration of First United Methodist Church in Ft Smith

• Is the longest serving member of Hardscrabble Country Club.

• Was chairman of the Sparks Foundation Board of Directors and was instrumental in raising money for the Boreham Building at Sparks Hospital

• Served as a member of the St Edward Board of Advisors

• Is a past president of the Ramsey Junior High School Booster Club, and a past president of the Southside High School Booster Club

The citation awarded Shipley noted: “In recognition of your extraordinary display of patriotism and commitment to the defense of our nation as evidenced by your personal sacrifices in combat during World War II. Your award of the Bronze Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat on the Siegfried Line near Aachen Germany are a testament to your courage under fire, steadfastness and strength of character and embody the ideals, morals and values that have made this country great. Your continued support of Veterans, Service Members of our Armed Forces and our community throughout the years is exemplary and we salute you.”

Lt. Col. (retired) Billy Dooly served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army. He is a Vietnam Veteran who served two combat tours as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam receiving two Bronze Stars for heroism, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 22 Air Medals with three “V” Devices for Exceptional Valor, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army General Staff Badge for service at the Pentagon, the Parachutist Badge & the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

He is a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Certified Aircraft Accident Investigator.

After his military career he returned to Fort Smith as general manager of North American Foundry for seven years and then president of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce for 16 years, retiring in 2003.

His civic and charitable work in Arkansas and the Fort Smith area include:
• He is a charter and board member of the 188th/Fort Chaffee Community Council.

• He is a former board member of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.

• Served as chairman of the Fort Smith Classic professional golf tournament

• Is a past president of the Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club

• Is a founding and charter member of the Darby MOAA Chapter

• Is treasurer of the Western Arkansas Mountain Frontier, which is part of the Arkansas Parks and Tourism that promotes travel and tourism in the state.

• Was inducted into the Arkansas Hospitality Association Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame.

The citation awarded Dooly noted: “In recognition of your extraordinary display of patriotism and commitment to the defense of our nation as evidenced by your personal sacrifices in two combat tours during the Vietnam War. Your award of two Bronze Stars for heroism, the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during aerial flight, twenty two Air Medals with three “V” Devices for exemplary valor, two Meritorious Service Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry during combat in Vietnam are a testament to your courage under fire, steadfastness and strength of character and embody the ideals, morals and values that have made this country great. Your continued support of Veterans, Service Members of our Armed Forces and our community throughout the years is exemplary and we salute you.”

The Darby Rangers Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America was chartered in September 2009 at the urging of then-U.S. Rep. John Boozman. The chapter is an incorporated non-profit 501c(19) Veteran Service Organization (VSO) with more than 80 members and a mailing list of more than 200 current, retired or former officers and warrant officers of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, US Public Health Service (USPHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)). The chapter is one of 10 in Arkansas, and the national MOAA has more than 370,000 members.