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Dougherty History Corner

                                               Arizona Territorial Days

Following in the pioneering tradition of his ancestors who sailed from Galway, Ireland, to America, M.J. Dougherty travelled from his family home in Wisconsin to what was then Arizona Territory in 1908.  He and Bess Severn, a Valparaiso classmate,  were married in 1909 and settled in Mesa City as it was then known.  In that same year, M.J. was licensed to practice in the Territory of Arizona Supreme Court.  He practiced law in Mesa from 1909 until 1938 when he moved to Phoenix, where he continued to practice until his death in 1957. 

                                                                               During the First World War,  M.J.

Bess & M.J. Dougherty

 served with the rank of captain in

 the U.S. Army Infantry Corps with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.  Following his discharge from regular duty, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 382nd Field Artillery Organized Reserves until 1936.  From 1924 to 1931, he served as Arizona State Aide to the U.S. Secretary of War. 

As a Democrat, M.J. was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1916 held in St. Louis.  While there, he served on the committee that wrote the first platform calling for women's right to vote. 

Throughout his lifetime, M.J. was very involved in civic affairs.  He was the Mesa City attorney from 1911 to 1935.  During his tenure, he brought about the revision of the city charter and represented the city in litigation through which it acquired gas and electric facilities.  Revenue from those facilities led to a street and sidewalk paving program as well as a sewage disposal plant.  In 1912 he led the organization of the Mesa City Chamber of Commerce, serving as its president for six years.  He was also instrumental in establishing the Mesa Public Library and for a number of years was chairman of its board of directors.  For twelve years, he was a member of the Mesa City school board and served as president of the Mesa City High School board for six years. 

During her early years in Mesa City, Bess Dougherty expressed her love of music by becoming a charter member of the Community Concert Association and the Phoenix Musician's Club.  She later became a member of the Phoenix Women's Club.  In 1928, she joined the Charles T. Hayden Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

"Four years have finally passed and I have graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Music.  My college career began as a 17 year old girl who wanted to move away from home and begin a life on her own without the hustle and bustle of Phoenix.  I was fortunate enough to find scholarship programs that helped me financially with school, without them, I probably would not have been able to make it to that glorious graduation day. 

In August of 2006, I moved to Flagstaff and was completely lost.  Everyone else seemed like they knew where they were going and what to expect; I did not.  It was quite an adventure, for the first time I had to figure everything out by myself and live in a dorm room with hardly any privacy.  Regardless, I started the year excited and eager to begin a new chapter in my life. 

I worked very hard and in the summer of 2009, I was able to accomplish another dream in life, I got married to my high school sweetheart. 

Kaurtney & Dallin Slade

I was then able to move to Mesa and finish off my college career with online classes and an internship, which is when I figured out what my "calling" was in life.

My internship turned out to be an amazing experience and I applied for a job with that agency.  I am now living the life I could have only dreamed of:  working for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and hate crimes and coming home every night to a loving and supportive husband.  None of this would have been possible without help from the Dougherty Foundation." 

Those words were taken from Kaurtney's recent thank you letter to the Foundation.  She continues to work in the Trauma Healing Services Department at La Frontera Arizona EMPACT-SPC.  We at the Foundation are always inspired by the stories from our students about their educational journeys and wish Kaurtney luck in her chosen profession. 

All Dougherty recipients are encouraged to apply for Dougherty funds when they transfer from a community college to either another Maricopa Community College or to one of the universities here in Arizona.  To see if your new school is in the Dougherty program, check the list of our participating schools listed on the left.

A new application and transcripts are required at the new school.  Be sure to tell your financial aid counselor that you are a Dougherty scholar.  As long as you still meet Dougherty requirements, you will be awarded a Dougherty scholarship and/or loan to complete your education.  Dougherty funding at the university level is half scholarship and half loan for students enrolled on a full-time basis.

Many of the schools have the Dougherty application on their website.  Click on their link in the school list in the column on the left.

Q:  It's the second semester of the school year, how do I get my funds?

A:  Your school notifies the Foundation of your progress and funds are sent to the school after your G.P.A. and hours are reviewed.

Q:  I've moved, whom do I tell?

A:  If you're still in school, notify the Dougherty Foundation via email or telephone (602) 264-7478.  If you've left school and are repaying your loan contact FAME at (800) 327-5772  x 310.

Be sure to keep receiving this newsletter from the Dougherty Foundation by giving us your personal email address instead of the school issued address you may have listed on your Dougherty application.  We don't provide your information to anyone.  Click here to update your email address:

                          doughertyfnd1@qwestoffice.net