HE SERVED COUNTY 28 YEARS
Former Assemblyman
Bill Magee Dies At 81
NELSON – Former state Assemblyman William “Bill” Magee, who served in the New York State Assembly for nearly three decades, died on Christmas Eve, his niece confirmed, syracuse.com is reporting today. He was 81.
From 1990 to 2018, Magee represented a district that included Madison, Otsego and Oneida counties. He also was an auctioneer, running Magee Auction Service for decades.
He was a longtime chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and was considered a champion of Upstate farmers.
During his time in office, Magee and state Sen. Jim Seward, R-Milford, collaborated on multiple grants and projects in Otsego County, at a time the Republicans controlled the Senate and the Democrats, the Assembly.
In one of the final collaborations, in 2018, each legislature obtained $1 million for the $5 million renovation of Doubleday Field, now largely complete.
That November, Assemblyman John Salka, R-Brookfield, now serving his second term, defeated Magee on his third try.
Bill Magee was indeed a champion of New York farmers—but also of all the people in his district. I had the opportunity to visit him many times as a board member of Family Planning of South Central New York. His door was always open, and he was a staunch advocate for women’s reproductive rights. Rest in Peace.
Melinda Hardin