Former school superintendents, administrators, and board members pay tribute
By JOHN ANDERSON
Tuesday night was a busy night in Wellsville, with sporting events, concerts and other meetings. That didn’t stop the Wellsville Central School Board of Education meeting room from being packed to capacity.
For one main reason: Alan Mosher.
The gentle giant may served quietly on the board of education for 21 years — 17 as president — but his retirement was anything but a silent affair.
The accolades came in person, from past administration and from the large crowd of family, friends and community members in attendance. The honors and talking about the community supporting him through a near-death organ failure moved him to tears when he thanked the audience.
Mosher did not seek another term on the board, and former Wellsville Superintendent David Foster said his ability to make tough decisions for the sake of students and what is best for the school will be missed.
“There is no nobility in merely standing on the sidelines and offering criticism. Teddy Roosevelt said it plainly: The credit belongs to the one who is in the arena. Al Mosher has always been that person,” Foster said. “For 21 years, Al was in the arena every vote, every difficulty, every moment, when leadership required something more than an opinion from a safe distance.”
Current Wellsville Central School Superintendent Aaron Wolfe said during his career, when the name of a board member popped up on his phone, he would brace himself for the conversation. That ended when he took the job at Wellsville and Mosher would call.
“I want to thank Al, personally, for your encouragement to me as a new superintendent,” said Wolfe. “A few months into my job, I would get a call on my way home, or on my way to work, and it was Al checking on me. It really meant a lot. With Al, when the phone rings, it doesn’t always have to be something scary. He has encouraging words and positive words about the school and our students.”
Kim Mueller served as superintendent at Wellsville from January 2010 to 2017. She drove from Buffalo to be at Mosher’s final meeting.
“Al believed in family. He knew I was leaving my family and I stayed in a Microtel for five months. He allowed me to bring my dogs in. He provided civility and respect. He lives and breathes this community,” Mueller said. “He believed in the same thing I did when I applied to be the superintendent: The children of Wellsville are amazing and deserve an educational system that supports their involvement and goals.”
She said as a result, Wellsville put the needs of students first and supported them more than any other district she worked at.
“I hope all future board members take a page from Al’s playbook and support the superintendent and let Wellsville grow and thrive,” Mueller added.
In a letter from Dr. Byron Chandler, (who served as a superintendent at Wellsville until January 2010) he said working with Al was a pleasure, he always focused on the “ups” and doing what is best for the students. “Congratulations of 21 years of success.”
Mosher spoke after a half dozen of accolades and said, “In this area of New York state, sometimes we are neglected, sometimes we are forgotten, but we all work together as a family. We need to build off each other’s strength and leadership. I can’t say enough … I’ve worked with some of the best administrators, the best teachers and the best students anywhere. Let’s continue that and make it the best for everyone who is here. Everyone needs to be educated and we need to work as hard as we can to find solutions to make that happen. And that comes back on the board to make that happen.”
Outside of his giving back to the community, Mosher is known as the “auto parts guy.” He was the owner and president of Fred Roberts Auto Parts from 1973 to 1998. In 1998, he became general manager of Middle Atlantic Automotive Warehouse of Buffalo, served as sales and product development manager and then a dirctor of products for a division of Pep Boys.
Mosher served on almost every youth sports and youth council position as a parent, and also has been the past president of the United Way of Allegany County, past president of the Wellsville Lions Club and a member of the Alfred State College Council.
Al and Nancy, his wife are the parents of three daughters and proud grandparents.
In 2019, Mosher took over as the board of directors president of the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce. It was at that time his health took a turn for the worse when he developed a liver condition known as NASH (Non Alcoholic Steato Hepatitis) and was suffering from liver failure.
The fight went on for three years until he could get a liver and organ transplant. He didn’t miss a beat with the school, something not lost on Foster.
“Many know that Al served through a period of profound personal trial. He faced liver failure and organ replacement. What few outside his family know fully and what those of us who watched it up close will never forget, anyone else would have stepped away from the board,” Foster said. “Al did not. He remained present, remained engaged, and remained the same steady, principled leader the district had always known. His commitment to Wellsville’s students never wavered.”
Mosher brought that time up and the emotions got the best of him. Fighting back tears he said, “Thank you for those who prayed for me … through those years … I was dying …This is why I do this, I like working with the community, you people are worth it.”
In a letter to the board, Foster said “He concludes his term at a time of his choosing. He leaves having given what he set out to give, having held the line when it needed holding, and having built something worth leaving behind. Wellsville has lost a prized asset, and that loss will be real.”
Foster finished with, “Al Mosher exemplifies the Lion’s motto, ‘We Serve.’ He knows what it means to serve well and to finish the job. He stayed in the arena until he was ready to leave it. He leaves it better than he found it. The students of Wellsville are better off because of the years he gave, and the community is richer for his leadership. It was a privilege to serve alongside him.”
Heather Gill said “I joined the board at 26-year-old and a graduate of Wellsville. I came in a little hot, I was angry, I was dissatisfied and I thought I could grab things by the horns and change it. Al taught me how to find common ground to start change. We brought in a school resource officer, we made sure you can’t get in this building while school is in session. I was learning how to be an advocate and because of Al, I became a mental health advocate as well.”
Former Wellsville School Business Administrator Emily Peavey spoke at the meeting and said Mosher was steady, smart and professional.
“You love our school, you love our community and you push back in the best way, you make sure everyone knows they matter,” Peavey said. “Thank you for your leadership and loving the mission more than the spotlight.”
Since Mosher will have a few extra minutes on his hands, Peavey delivered the most fitting words that would help the district as she concluded, “Have you considered becoming a bus driver?”
