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We would like to extend our congratulations and well wishes to Ralph Yanora of Pittston Township, who was sworn in as the newest commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in a special ceremony held at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday evening.

It was a touching and dignified event, in which high-ranking officials turned out to play a role in the proceedings or show their support for Yanora, who has over 40 years of experience in the water industry and also previously served as a Pittston Township supervisor.

Yanora will serve a five-year term, succeeding Norman J. Kennard in the position after Kennard’s term expired on March 31.

“For more than 30 years, Ralph has built a reputation as a doer, implementer, team player and effective manager,” state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, said in a speech welcoming Yanora to his new role.

It was believed on Monday that there had not been a Luzerne County resident to serve on the statewide PUC in nearly 75 years, as we reported on Tuesday.

Well, that was wrong.

Mary Alice Brokenshire, of Kingston, called the Times Leader on Tuesday to inform us that her father, the late Dr. John L. Dorris, of Nanticoke, had served on the PUC from 1961 until his death in 1967.

A physician, Dorris was born in Shenandoah before his family moved to Nanticoke, where he graduated from what was then Nanticoke High School.

He served in the U.S. Army in World War I and practied medicine in Philadelphia for 10 years before returning to Wilkes-Barre in 1934 to open an office in the Miners National Bank Building.

Dorris served on many local and state panels, and was Luzerne County Democratic Chairman from 1952 until his death, a Dec. 22, 1967 news report of his death in the Times Leader stated, having served as a delegate to the party’s national conventions in 1956, 1960 and 1964.

We regret the omission, and thank Mrs. Brokenshire for taking the time to call us an tell us about her father’s life and work.

And again, we salute Yanora and Dorris for their service to their communities and to the commonwealth.

— Times Leader

Patrick Solano, left, emcees the swearing-in ceremony for new commissioner of the Pennsylvanua Public Utility Commission Ralph Yanora, right, at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL110519YanoraPUC_4-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPatrick Solano, left, emcees the swearing-in ceremony for new commissioner of the Pennsylvanua Public Utility Commission Ralph Yanora, right, at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday.

Dorris
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_dorris.jpg.optimal.jpgDorris