Thomas Coughlin III (February 12, 1938 – August 23, 2001) was the first commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (now Office for People with Developmental Disabilities) and later served as the second longest commissioner of the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
[1] After joining the Department of Mental Hygiene, Coughlin became instrumental in implementing the Willowbrook Consent Decree which committed New York state to improving community placement for all developmentally disabled.
[2][3] Mr. Coughlin took over the Department of Corrections when State Senate Republicans blocked the selection of Governor Carey's original nominee for the job, Richard Hongisto.
[1] He continued to serve in the post under Governor Mario Cuomo, where Mr. Coughlin presided over the rapid growth of the prison system.
[5] In 1972 he joined the race track’s promotional team, and in 1975 Coughlin and his partners purchased the Can-Am Speedway in nearby LaFargeville, N.Y.[6] Coughlin, along with fellow area promoters Howard Rowe, Doug Atkinson and Bob Thurston were honored in 1996 by the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame for their contributions.