Joe D. Gormley

Joe D. Gormley (89) died on January 9, 2025. Joe was the son of the late George W. Gormley and Mildred Moore Staggs. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and children, Mitzi (Mark) Bruck, Osprey, Fla., Patrick Gormley, Largo, Fla., Michael (Ellen) Gormley, Versailles, and Susan (Tom) Tipton, Versailles. Granddaughters are Alexandra Tipton, Corey Tipton, Callie Ann Gormley, and Charla Gormley.

Dr. Gormley was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church where he was on the church’s first school board and first parish council.

Dr. Gormley attended the St. Leo School and the Versailles Public Schools.

He attended Transylvania University and the University of Louisville. He graduated with a degree from Centre College in biology, English and physical education. In his senior year at Centre, he also taught physical education and served as an assistant football coach. Dr. Gormley received a master's degree and a doctorate at the University of Kentucky in counseling and administration.

His 30 years in the public schools included service as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal and as superintendent of Woodford County Schools for 18 years. Dr. Gormley also taught graduate courses for the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University in administration, finance and school law. He taught business administration at Georgetown College.

After retiring as superintendent, Dr. Gormley served as Legislative Agent for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators in Frankfort and as the Executive Secretary of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents. He was a member of the Education Coalition which was involved in the school reform legislation in 1990.

Dr. Gormley served as Woodford County Judge-Executive for eight years, 1999 through 2006. He was an unsuccessful candidate for judge executive in the 1993 Democratic primary and for mayor in the general election in November 2006.

He served for eight years as chairman of the Woodford County Health Board, and five years as chair of the Regional Council on Aging. He served for eight years on the Executive Board of Bluegrass Community Action.

Dr. Gormley was a member of the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce and received the Chamber’s Education Award and the Hall of Fame Award. The Woodford County Farm Bureau also recognized Dr. Gormley for his distinguished service to education.

He was inducted into the Woodford County Public Schools Hall of Fame first class of 2012.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 11:00am at St. Leo Catholic Church. The Funeral Mass will follow at 12:00pm on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at St. Leo Catholic Church. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Dr. Gormley’s name to their favorite charity, St. Leo Church, or the Woodford County Historical Society.