Robert Flacke, Sr.

Robert “Bob” Flacke was born and raised in Albany, NY, and has spent most of his life as a businessman and public official in the Adirondacks. He has had a distinguished career in government and the private sector, having served Governor Hugh L. Carey as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (1979-1983) and Chairman of the Adirondack Park Agency (1975).  Bob also served as interim CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross which he attended on a full athletic football scholarship, and an NFL draft pick, Bob took his gridiron skills and applied them to the rough and tumble world of politics and business.

Toughness and leadership ability served him well as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1955-58, as a gunnery officer on a destroyer escort. Bob’s military service to his country continued in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he retired as a Captain in 1988.

Bob and his wife Jean raised their four children and have operated, with several of their children, the Fort William Henry Resort on Lake George, since 1958, as well as Lincoln Log Colony, a cottage rental business.

Career Highlights

  • In the 1960′s implemented a Learning Disability program at Queensbury Junior High School.
  • Guided the growth of The Fort William Henry Corporation to be one of the leading tourism entities in Northern New York State.
  • Instituted one of the first formal public school Learning Disability programs in New York State.
  • Management changes to the organization of the 1980 Winter Olympics.
  • Management changes to the administration of the Adirondack Park Agency.
  • Management reorganization and incremental changes to the Department of Environmental Conservation, a 700 million dollar budgeted agency.
  • Responsible for managing the remediation of the “Love Canal” chemical disaster.
  • Published a “Minority Report” as a member of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the 21st Century.
  • Re-organized the Olympic Regional Development Authority in 1993-1994.
  • Chosen to receive the “Liberty Bell” award by the Warren County Bar Association in 1995.

Community Service

  • Past member of the Glens Falls Hospital Holding Corporation Board, Past director of the Glens Falls Hospital
  • Past Director of Evergreen Bank; Past Director of Evergreen Bankcorp and Chairman of the Executive Committee
  • Director of Finch Pruyn Corporation – Chairman of Finch Pruyn’s Woodlands and Legal Committee
  • Past Director of BankNorth
  • Past Director of the New York State Business Council
  • Vice President of the New York State Blue Line Council
  • Member of various Environmental and Tourism professional groups and organizations
  • Trustee of the 1954 Finch Pruyn Trusts
  • Initial board member North Country Ministry.

“In the Adirondack Debate there are environmental groups representing constituencies who have through the decades shown little regard for the people who live in the Adirondacks or their local governments.  It is now important to match this force with an organization dedicated to the people of the Adirondacks. ‘Match’ includes representation in court proceedings.”