PRESCOTT – Prescott needed something done, Doug Whaley answered the call.

As public works foreman for the City of Prescott, his job and dedication to it touched citizens, community leaders and organizations. Whaley, 49, of Hager City, was heading toward Prescott to salt icy roads Feb. 6 when he came upon a woman whose car was in the ditch on Highway 35 in Oak Grove Township. She also had a three-week-old infant in the vehicle.

As he’d do, Whaley stopped to help. A box truck northbound on Highway 35 struck Whaley’s truck. He died at Regions Hospital from injuries suffered in the accident.

The Prescott City Council at a somber start to its meeting Monday, Feb. 13 passed a resolution honoring Whaley and will dedicate a bench in his honor along the renovated river front.

The city issued a statement the day after the tragic crash.

“We as a city and especially our public works department will be dealing with Doug’s loss for a long time to come. However, more than anything we want to thank Doug for his great work ethic, outstanding teamwork, and most importantly the friendship he provided to so many of us over the years he was here.”

Mayor Rob Daugherty said Whaley was always there to lend a hand.

“He was an excellent employee. He was so dedicated to his job and the community,” he said. “He was very skilled. He was able to do multiple things. He was a very valuable employee. He was an asset to the city. We’ll miss him very much.”

Daugherty said Whaley could always be relied on.

“He was on his way into Prescott to salt and stand. He stopped to help someone, because that’s exactly what he’d do. Out of the goodness of his heart, he stopped to give aid. It’s a shame how that happened,” said Daugherty.

Whaley’s memory will also live on in the expanded Magee Park, where the trailhead of the new Coulee River Trail system will be located. Volunteers were working to clear brush and trees. Whaley got the call.

“He stepped in and helped cut all the trails,” said Daugherty. “He’s going to be missed tremendously. It’s a big shock anytime you lose a city employee that you knew and was well-respected in town. It was a very big shock.”

Daugherty ordered flags of the city flown at half-staff in Whaley’s memory from Feb. 14-18.

A celebration of life for Whaley was held Saturday, Feb. 11 at The Bluffs in Hager City, where people were encouraged to wear Detroit Lions gear in memory of the Michigan native.

Whaley is survived by his wife Celina and four children, Tanner, Ethan, Tiana and Courtney.

The proclamation read into the official city record in Whaley’s memory reads as follows: IN HONOR AND REMEMBERANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS FOREMAN DOUGLAS A. WHALEY THE CITY OF PRESCOTT is greatly saddened by the loss of Doug Whaley our Public Works Foreman who has served the City of Prescott since June 18, 2018; and WHEREAS, Public Works Foreman Doug Whaley upon getting a call to serve the citizens of Prescott to salt and sand the roads under icy conditions, stopped to help a vehicle stuck in the ditch and was tragically killed in a car accident; and WHEREAS, the City of Prescott will remember Doug Whaley for his great work ethic, outstanding teamwork, and most importantly the friendship he provided to so many of us over the years; and

WHEREAS, the City of Prescott offers its prayers and condolences to his family, friends, the Public Works Department, and the community.

NOW THEREFORE, I, ROBERT DAUGHERTY, Mayor of the City of Prescott do hereby proclaim that all flags of the City of Prescott shall be flown at half-staff February 14 through the 17 to honor the memory and service of Douglas A. Whaley and a bench plaque be dedicated to his memory along the riverfront.