Ron Sheehan has always been a whiz when it came to numbers.

The Jim Thorpe native worked in the banking industry for years before moving over to Carbon County’s controller’s office and finally settling in as the county treasurer, an elected position that he has held for two decades.

But after doing all the math, Sheehan has decided on one final number.

On Dec. 30, the longtime treasurer, who is the longest serving treasurer in Carbon County history, is retiring.

“I made it known four years ago when I ran for my fifth term that it would be my last,” Sheehan said. “I feel like now is a good time for me to retire and enjoy my retirement years while I am still young enough to travel and be active.”

Sheehan’s political career began when he was 22 years old.

At that time, he was elected as a Jim Thorpe councilman, serving as vice president of council from 1988 to 1994.

The Jim Thorpe graduate also began serving his community and the county Democratic Party through various organizations.

In 1992, Sheehan was hired as an accountant/fiscal deputy in the Carbon County Controller’s office and worked closely with then controller Robert Crampsie on the operations of the county government.

He was elected to his first term as county treasurer in 2001 at the age of 36, replacing then treasurer Joseph Orsulak.

Since then, Sheehan upgraded the computer system of both the license bureau and treasurer’s revenue systems, as well as oversaw the county employee retirement program and the hotel tax collections, which have tripled since the tax was created.

“The office has undergone a lot of changes during my 20 years, both in advancement in technology and in organization and reduction of paperwork,” he said. “Many processes were eliminated or streamlined to be more efficient without sacrificing accountability and accuracy.”

In addition to the county position, Sheehan had also served as president of the County Treasurers’ Association of Pennsylvania in 2012 and as vice president for two years. He was the past secretary of the Jim Thorpe Area Sports Hall of Fame; past treasurer of the Mauch Chunk Historical Society; past president and treasurer of the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club; longtime member of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club; Jim Thorpe Borough’s 50th Anniversary Committee and the “Jim Thorpe - Athlete of the Century” celebrations; past president and treasurer of the Jim Thorpe Rotary Club; co-chair of the Community Nurse Program and the World War I and World War II Monuments Restoration Committees; charter member of the Carbon County Ancient Order of Hibernians and a founder of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Sheehan has also served as president of the Evergreen Cemetery board of directors; is vice chairman of the board of directors of the Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank; and was executive director of the Asa Packer Mansion.

He has been honored by his community by being chosen to serve as the grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2007 and the borough’s Halloween parade in 2015 and was named the Hibernian of the Year in 2004.

Looking back over his career, Sheehan feels there is a lot to be thankful for, many of them being the people he has met.

“As proud as I am of my tenure as treasurer, I could not have accomplished any of it without the aid of my staff,” he said. “Their professionalism in dealing with the public, their diligent work ethic, and their attention to details have made my office the model of public service it has been known to be. I can’t thank them enough for their loyal service to me and the public.

“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Carbon County as treasurer for the last 20 years. I consider myself fortunate that I was able to make a career out of the two things I love to do, work with finance and serve the public and I thank the people of Carbon County for allowing me to serve.”