Frank C. Roney

Friday, July 17, 1998

Frank C. Roney

Attorney who served as judge
Exactly how Frank C. Roney will be remembered depends on who you ask.

If it's the attorneys and judges with whom he served as a Washington County Workers' Compensation judge, he was the consummate gentleman who demanded and maintained civility in his courtroom.
Residents of Canonsburg, where he served as borough solicitor for 17 years, recall his honesty and hard work ethic.
Roney of 633 Woodland Road, Canonsburg, died at his home, Thursday, July 16, 1998, following a lengthy illness. He was 74.
He began practicing law in Washington and the Canonsburg areas in 1954, and on Dec. 29, 1971, he was appointed a Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation judge.
"I've known him since I started practicing in 1975. Mr. Roney had three rules in his courtroom," said attorney Ben Costello of Washington.
"Don't talk. Don't be late. And if he asks you if you have any more questions, just say no."
Costello said Roney used a pen instead of a gavel and would tap his ink pen on his desk to call the courtroom to order.
"As soon as everybody heard that tapping the place shut down," Costello recalled.
Roney handled many cases. In one year he rendered 1,042 decisions and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bureau of Worker's Compensation on June 10, 1998.
Roney was also known for the high standards of politeness that he demanded of those in his court.
"People forget ... attorneys lose sight of being polite to each other. He brought a high degree of civility to the entire arena," Costello said. "He was the perfect judge."
Roney was also solicitor for Canonsburg from the early 1970s through the late '80s. During that time he also maintained a law practice.
"When he made a decision, he meant what he said," said former Canonsburg councilman Joseph D'Orazio.
"He never backed off of anything.".
D'Orazio said Roney was so devoted to the community he would go to seminars to learn about changing laws regarding municipalities.
"He would come back and say 'OK, these are the things we need to do to stay within the law of Pennsylvania,'" D'Orazio said.
"Frank and I happened to be in Canonsburg during the development push. We worked real hard to respond to the demands of a real hectic lifestyle," said former borough manager Paul Amic, who served with Roney from 1982 through 1989.
"I know there were times when we got on each other's nerves but he never let us down."
"He was a quiet man and a fair and honest guy, too," said former councilman Jimmy Gregorakis.
Roney also served as solicitor for Washington County Clerk of Courts, controller's office and county treasurer. He served as assistant district attorney and was a member of Washington County Board of Assessment Appeals.
He was also a solicitor for Canon-McMillan School District and the Canonsburg Parking Authority.
Roney was born in Canonsburg November 3, 1923, a son of Carl and Ann Chervenak Roney, Czechoslovakian immigrants.
He was a 1943 graduate of Canonsburg High School where he was vice president of his junior and senior class.
He also lettered in track winning gold, silver and bronze medals.
Roney served with the 9th Air Force in Europe during World War II, where he received five battle participation stars.
He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and attended law school at Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Washington County Bar Association, the American Arbitration Association and Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.
Roney was also a member of American Legion Post 0902 of Houston, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 191 of Canonsburg, Canonsburg Knights of Columbus 3291, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 846 of Canonsburg, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 0127 of Canonsburg, Fraternal Order of Eagles 861 of Canonsburg, Croatian Fraternal Union of America Lodge 567, SNPJ.
Lodge 138 in Strabane, KSKJ Lodge 153 in Strabane and the National Slovak Society.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Worship site of St. Patrick Parish in Canonsburg.
Surviving is his wife, Barbara Hrouda Roney, whom he married in Cleveland January 28, 1950.
Also surviving are three children, Frank C. Roney Jr. of McMurray, David Roney of North Strabane Township and Lisa Roney Bell of Cypress, Texas; six grandchildren, Carla, Rachel, Amanda, Brian and Justin Roney and Nicole Bell; a sister, Maryan Roney Simpson of Chartiers Township; and several nieces and nephews.
*This obituary was written by Heidi Price.