EDC Warren County joins our community in mourning the passing of Ronald Frederick Davies, a longtime EDC member, supporter, entrepreneur and friend.
Ron’s story is also part of the economic story of the greater Glens Falls region.
Born in London, educated at Cambridge University and trained as a chemist, Ron came to this area and helped build businesses that became part of our region’s manufacturing economy. He co-founded Colonial Metals and later Ames Goldsmith, ultimately serving as Chairman of Ames Goldsmith Corporation and its family of companies.
Ron represented something we continue to believe is enormously important to this region. Entrepreneurs can choose to come here, build a company, create jobs, put down roots and become deeply invested in the community around them.
But Ron didn’t stop at building businesses. He believed in building the community that supported them.
From EDC’s early years through the present, Ron was a longtime member and steadfast supporter of our economic development mission. He understood that strong companies and strong communities go hand in hand. That same commitment could be seen in his service to organizations including the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation and The Hyde.
For those of us at EDC, Ron’s legacy is a reminder that economic development is ultimately about people. People willing to take a risk, start something, employ others, invest in a place and then give back to it.
Ron Davies did all of those things.
We extend our condolences to Annette, Ron’s children and grandchildren, his colleagues at Ames Goldsmith, and the many people throughout our region whose lives he touched.