Joseph A. Doorley Honored In Ceremony Dedicating Municipal Complex to Longtime Mayor

A living history gathers for dedication of the Doorley Building at 444 Westminster Street.

Mayor Angel Taveras today dedicated the city's municipal office building at 444 Westminster Street in honor of Joseph A. Doorley, Jr., who served as Mayor from 1965 to 1975 and led Providence with commitment and enthusiasm during a time of momentous change for Rhode Island's capital city.

"When you think about the accomplishments of Mayor Doorley, all you have to do is walk around our great city and look at its skyline," said Mayor Taveras during an outdoor dedication ceremony attended by City Council President Michael Solomon and all of Providence's living former mayors. "We dedicate the Joseph A. Doorley, Jr. Municipal Building so that future generations will always remember Mayor Doorley and the great impact that he had on our city."

Born in Providence on October 12, 1930, Doorley developed a keen interest in politics and won a seat on the City Council in 1962. In 1965, the 34-year-old Doorley defeated Republican Charles A. Kilvert by a wide margin to become the youngest man elected until that time to the Providence mayoralty.

As Mayor, Doorley contended with population loss, civil unrest, the deterioration of downtown Providence's retail district and the exodus of the city's industrial base. Under his leadership, several important steps were taken to stem Providence's decline and set the stage for renewal. Doorley implemented elements of the City's Master Plan and worked with the Providence Housing Authority to construct four elderly high-rise towers. In 1973 Rhode Island Hospital's new $28 million Ambulatory Patient Care Building was completed and a year later the ribbon was cut on the 30-story Hospital Trust Tower.

His management style was frugal, earning him the knick-name 'No Dough Joe.' Doorley's crowning achievement was the successful construction of the Providence Civic Center-- dubbed "Doorley's Dream"-- which opened for business in 1974.

"It's an honor and a privilege to honor not only a true son of Providence, but a true son of the Fifth Ward," said Council President Michael Solomon, who represents Ward 5 in Providence's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. "It's my sincere hope that each person who passes through the doors of the Joseph Doorley building will be inspired by his record of public service to our city."

"Joe was just a great Mayor and he's a great person. When I was Mayor I was so fortunate to have Joe to call upon for advice," said former Mayor Joseph Paolino, who served as master of ceremonies for the dedication ceremony.

Doorley traveled to Providence from his home in Florida and joined with three generations of his family for the naming of the three-story former Blue Cross Blue Shield building at 444 Westminster Street. The city began leasing the building in April, 2011 to consolidate departments that had previously been spread throughout the city, provide more office space at the same cost to taxpayers, and enable the city to save significantly in the future. It houses the City Solicitor's Office, the Office of Economic Development, Department of Planning and Development, Department of Inspections and Standards, Work Force Solutions, Information Systems, and some of the Fire Marshal's office staff.

"I'm deeply humbled and I thank everyone in the city for honoring me on this day," said Doorley. "I am definitely impressed with the progress that has been made in Providence - it is well beyond anything that I did. I'm impressed with the work that Mayor Taveras is doing with the City Council. Everybody recognizes what has to be done, and I hope that spirit of cooperation continues and grows and brings everybody in the city closer together."

Elected officials and dignitaries who attended the dedication ceremony also included U.S. Congressman and former Mayor David N. Cicilline; former Mayor Vincent 'Buddy' Cianci; former Mayor and City Council President John Lombardi; City Council President Pro Tem Terrence Hassett; City Councilor Wilbur Jennings; City Councilor Michael Correia; Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio; Senator Maryellen Goodwin; Representative Ray Hull; Representative Anastasia Williams; Board of License Chairman Andrew Annaldo; former Rhode Island Superior Court Presiding Justice Joseph Rodgers; former Warwick Mayor Eugene McCaffrey; and former Rhode Island General Treasurer Anthony Solomon.