Thomas Barnes wore many hats throughout his accomplished life.
A 1974 graduate of Portville Central School, Barnes devoted his life to education, community planning and regional development.
He held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell and a Juris Doctor Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He taught at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, Mercyhurst College, Ithaca College, Alfred State College and Alfred University.
For more than three decades, Tom served the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, playing a pivotal role in securing tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funding for infrastructure, nonprofit development and economic growth throughout southwestern New York. His efforts helped launch key organizations and projects, including the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority and the Southern Tier West Development Foundation.
A tireless civic volunteer, Tom served multiple terms as chair of the City of Olean Planning Board and held leadership roles in arts and planning organizations. In 2009, he was awarded the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award for his enduring impact in the region.
Barnes was an original Board member of the Cattaraugus County Arts Council — now the Tri-County Arts Council — and served as president for 20 years. The Tri-County Arts Council’s highest honor, the Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, bears his name.
A lover of the arts and a talented musician, Tom will also lovingly be remembered as a constant figure in the local music scene. For many years he played saxophone in local music groups, including the Mojo Hand Blues Band.
Following Tom’s passing in 2024, the Barnes estate designated $1 million for charitable purposes — $200,000 was allocated to four local nonprofits that reflect his lifelong passions and civic contributions, with each organization receiving $50,000. Those organizations include the Tri-County Arts Council, the Portville Free Library, the Cattaraugus County SPCA and the Olean Public Library.
Two agencies received their gifts as a contribution to their existing agency endowments to support the growth of those funds that benefit their agencies. New funds were established in Tom’s name to support the SPCA and the Olean Library.
The remaining $800,000 was designated to the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to establish the Thomas M. Barnes Scholarship Fund, a four-year renewable award for Portville Central School students that is designed to support students throughout their undergraduate education.
“Tom’s gift is transformational,” says Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “Through this scholarship and his generous support of local institutions, Tom’s legacy will live on in the lives of students, artists, readers and families across our region for generations.”
While open to students of all academic interests, preference will be given to those pursuing careers in business, law or the arts – in honor of a few of Barnes’s great passions. Recipients may renew the scholarship for up to four years, provided they maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA.
In recognition of a remarkable act of generosity, Portville Central School Superintendent Tom Simon expressed his gratitude:
“We are deeply humbled and profoundly grateful for this extraordinary gift. Thomas Barnes’ generosity and foresight will make a lasting difference in the lives of many Portville students. His enduring loyalty to his alma mater is both inspiring and deeply moving. Thank you, Mr. Barnes, for the lasting legacy you will have on Portville Central School students.”
The scholarship fund will grow even larger in the future as the $800,000 contribution was only an initial distribution from the estate, Windus says.
Donations can be made to the Thomas M. Barnes Scholarship Fund, Thomas Barnes Olean Public Library Fund or the Thomas Barnes SPCA in Cattaraugus County Fund at CRCF, 301 N. Union St., or online at cattfoundation.org.
