A new plaque has been installed by the door of Dr. Thomas Carroll’s dentist office, recognizing a pillar of the Dublin community whose practice was there 70 years.
“Dr. [Harlan] Raley enjoyed serving several generations of his patents at this very location for 70 years,” the plaque reads.
“Anybody that does that on the job in this building is amazing,” Carroll said. “I told Monica [Fenn] we need to do something for him.”
After his son, Tommy, made an official looking historical plaque for Dr. Carroll for their home, he tasked Tommy to do the same for his office so he could honor the man who he worked with and from whom he purchased the practice.
The sign was installed by Chino Rodriguez on Jan. 4 and is mounted to the left of the door.
Dr. Raley retired last year after reaching the 70-year milestone in November 2021 and selling the practice to Dr. Carroll.
“It was fun, being here working with him,” said Dr. Carroll, a dentist with 39 years of experience who stands in amazement of how long Raley served his community.
Although Raley hasn’t seen the sign in person, he was shown a picture and was reported to be touched by the honor.
Raley was a Clyde native who grew to like Dublin when his father, William Raley, took a position as superintendent. He enrolled at John Tarleton Agricultural College before he enlisted in the Navy during the Pacific War and ended up stationed in Pearl Harbor.
Following the war, Raley finished his degree at University of Texas and attended Baylor Dental School.
Following his graduation, he learned that Dr. Henry Potts was selling his practice. Harlan bought the business in 1951 and dealt with Dublin dental needs there for seven decades.