Air Conditioning Contractors of America
honor four pioneers

The heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry recently created an HVAC Hall of Fame.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Upstate New York chapter designated the Hall of Fame to recognize those who contributed to the growth and professionalization of the industry. Timothy Malone, president of Crossfield Heating & Air Conditioning in Webster, emceed the induction ceremony.

A committee, comprised of contractor and associate or supplier members of ACCA, selected four honorees, who were confirmed by the board of directors. The first "class" of inductees were Richard O'Grady of Greece, Robert Taylor of Henrietta, James Isaac of Webster and the late Thomas McGarry, who lived in Spencerport.

O'Grady and Taylor were instrumental in organizing the Registered Heating & Cooling Contractors in 1952. The Registered Heating & Cooling Contractors was the forerunner of ACCA. The name was changed when the local organization became a chapter of the national trade association. O'Grady served as the first president of the new association and Taylor was the first secretary/treasurer.

Isaac, whose father was part of that first group, was recognized for having served as president of both the national ACCA organization and the local chapter. He was also president of Rochester Rotary, and has been a major contributor to Habitat for Humanity in the Rochester area.

McGarry, who worked for Rochester Gas & Electric, was honored for his educational contributions to the industry through the manuals he helped prepare and the RG&E-sponsored seminars that he conducted. Many in the audience remembered fondly all they learned from McGarry.

Malone, who is a member of the ACCA board of directors, presented each honoree with a handsome plaque. He says the chapter expects to induct new people into the Hall of Fame on a regular basis, but has not yet decided whether it will be annually or biannually.

Rochester is the only upstate city with an ACCA chapter. Last year, the national organization, which provides contractors with educational material, government relations service and training opportunities, asked the local chapter to expand its focus across the state. As a result, the name was changed to ACCA of Upstate New York. Contractors who offer both residential and commercial heating, air conditioning and refrigeration service belong to ACCA, and suppliers to the industry are associate members.