A slide showing the Research Triangle Park Foundation’s big 100-acre property acquisition in February included a statement that could be the slogan for Dick Daugherty’s commitment to this region he ha called home for decades:

“We are building a vibrant community that brings bold ideas to life.”

Some corporate executives can’t wait to shed their suits and retire to the beach or the mountains.

Others respond to a higher calling – to serve their community.

Dick Daugherty is among the later. And the Triangle is a better place to live thanks to his unceasing efforts after retiring from IBM (NYSE: IBM) to keep working for a better future to be enjoyed by all North Carolinians.

Richard “Dick” Daugherty, who was a former senior executive at IBM, is a longtime champion of NCSU’s Centennial Campus, and now is a driving force behind the new strategic plan for Research Triangle Park as a member of its board, is among the latest inductees for the Raleigh Hall of Fame.

Way to go, Dick.

You deserve this honor.

Daugherty will be inducted along with several other at the Raleigh convention center on Oct 6.

The snapshot of Daugherty as published by the Hall of Fame doesn’t cite his work at the RTP Foundation, but notes his commitment to growing IBM’s RTP presence to 12,000 people. (It’s well, well under 10,000 now.)

Daugherty also helped make Centennial Campus a reality. That’s how The Skinny first met him when writing an in-depth report about the emerging venture 20 years ago for Spectator magazine. (A young member of that team at the time was Bob Geolas, now head of the RTP Foundation, whom Daugherty helped recruit back to N.C. from South Carolina.)

In fact, Daugherty’s biggest impact on the Triangle for decades to come could be the new RTP plan, which offers the promise of reinvigorating the economic engine at the hub of Raleigh-Cary-Durham-Chapel Hill.

Here’s The Hall’s snapshot about Daugherty:

Richard “Dick” Daugherty

Through his leadership at IBM, North Carolina State University (NCSU) and throughout the community, Dick Daugherty has positively impacted Raleigh for over forty years. Under his direction, the IBM campus in Research Triangle Park (RTP) grew to over 12,000 employees and he helped shape Research Triangle Park into the world-class business and research community it is today. In the 1990s, Mr. Daugherty helped form NCSU’s Centennial Campus into a thriving research campus comprised of students, researchers and businesses. Many Raleigh residents are employed by IBM and other companies in RTP and on Centennial Campus because of his foresight. Many believe it is the work Mr. Daugherty has performed as a civic leader that has benefited the community the most. He has volunteered on many local boards and fundraising campaigns, providing invaluable leadership. Among the many local organizations he has served with include NCSU’s Entrepreneurs Initiative, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Wake Education Partnership, the North Carolina Symphony, Rex Hospital and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

WRAL.com has a full report on all the selections to the Hall.

Congratulations to all. Public service is something that never should be taken for granted. We all benefit from the contributions of these men and women who choose to serve for something other than a paycheck.