If you don’t recognize Mr. Dougherty by name, then you’ll definitely recognize him by sight. Most simply know him as the man who wears those outrageous shoes, shirts, and flashy ties. Just what makes this man so colorful, and how did he become the walking rainbow?
Teacher Mr. David Dougherty has been working at Southern Lehigh for eight years. When he started, he made the conscious decision to be different.
“[Growing up,] I always hated parents who say they don’t care what others think, but then when you do something stupid, your parents say ‘how do you think this makes us look?’” Dougherty said. “I just decided to not care what others think.”
Mr. Dougherty can accredit his flashy fashion to his brother, who gave him his first “ugly” tie. Since then, his collection has boomed to over 100 wacky ties thanks to gifts and eBay.
As for his vibrant shoes, it turns out he found his first pair (purple alligator skinned) six years ago on eBay for five dollars, and he never looked back.
“Mr. Dougherty is very committed to making school very fun for kids inside and outside of class,” teacher Mr. Anthony Italiani said.
Many students have nothing but good things to say of Mr. Dougherty.
“He’s a child at heart,” senior Lenny Paparo said.
Mr. Dougherty enjoys his colorful style and has received many interesting comments over the years.
“I’ve been told that I look like various fruits: bananas, blueberries, and an orange, to name a few,” Dougherty said.
The ever-expanding array of colors Mr. Dougherty wears to school is guaranteed to delight students for years to come.
”I’m branching out though,” Dougherty said. “I’m going to be incorporating bright pants and belts.”
