Jay Daugherty

Two of the most important events in Jay A. Daugherty’s life occurred in 1985: He married his wife Lyn, and he became involved with The ALS Association’s Keith Worthington Chapter in Kansas City because he wanted to do something in memory of his dad who passed away in 1974 from ALS.

“It is all about my dad and trying to prevent future generations from having to battle a disease that we should be able to cure in our lifetime,” said Daugherty.

Born in Hermann, Missouri, a small town located in the heart of winemaking country, former Circuit Judge Jay Daugherty, now a mediator at the law firm Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, also finds inspiration in the fight against ALS from his many meetings with people with ALS and the belief major breakthroughs in ALS research are near.

“We have experienced a convergence of science and technology in the last several years that give us the ability to find an effective treatment or cure this disease soon,” said Daugherty, a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Nevada-Reno.

As a member of The Association’s National Board of Trustees since 1995, Daugherty is most proud of “building an organization that is the most effective ALS specific charitable entity in the world. We help fund and facilitate the best and most trustworthy research for ALS and we will find a cure for ALS.”

In 2000, Daugherty was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by the governor of Kentucky for his service to the Commonwealth. The father of two children said having a wonderful family and life are among his greatest personal accomplishments.