NORWICH – Family, friends and colleagues honored Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman and North Norwich Supervisor Richard B. Decker – the county’s longest serving board chairman – at a gathering in the supervisors’ chambers on Dec. 29.

Current and past members of several departments, including Chenango County Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd, former Treasurer William E. Evans and Public Health Department Director Marcas Flindt stopped by to help celebrate the occasion and to wish Decker good luck. A large number of supervisors turned out for the send off, including Lawrence Wilcox of Oxford, Jack Cook of Greene, Wayne Outwater of Lincklaen, George Seneck of Guilford, Dennis Brown of Pharsalia and David C. Law of Norwich.

Decker was board chairman for 14 years, a record for Chenango County. He was elected Town of North supervisor in 1994. Previously, Decker served with the United States Marine Corp. and was subsequently employed by the Norwich Police Department as a police officer in 1963. He became assistant police chief and, later, chief of police, before retiring in 1988.

Decker said his last year had been “a good one for the county” despite state and federal government takebacks and more individuals relying on social services.