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Today's Featured Biography

Patrick FETZNER

When Pat Fetzner came to work for the Erie County clerk of records in 1978, the documents tracking court cases, real estate transactions, wills and estates were kept as they had been since the courthouse fire of 1823 -- in great heavy books stacked on metal rollers.

The offices Fetzner left Friday now have those documents available at the tap of a keyboard in the courthouse and, for a fee, remotely from office or home.

That transformation of the collection and storage of documents that touch nearly every citizen's life in Erie County is one of the things Fetzner said he is most proud of achieving, with his staff, in his 23-year tenure as the top record keeper in Erie County.

Fetzner, 63, retired Friday amid his sixth four-year term as clerk of records.

He said that he and his wife, Beverly, want to spend time with their four grandchildren and do a little traveling.


"I am blessed to have good health. I want to enjoy my retirement," he said.

Erie County Council has appointed Deputy Clerk of Records Kenneth Gamble to fill out the remainder of Fetzner's term.

"My main focus will be a smooth, seamless transition for all the offices and the staff," Gamble, 48, said. "I am honored that County Council showed such confidence in me."

Gamble, a lawyer, was hired in 1993 as first deputy prothonotary. His hiring was part of what Fetzner called the "professionalization" of the office -- the second thing he is most proud of achieving while in office.

Fetzner said he placed lawyers at the head of each office under his control -- Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills.

Complicated legal issues arise daily, be it a question of handling a large estate, a $1 million land deal or criminal conviction record, he said. The lawyers on staff "are on top of changes in the law and how to apply office policy," he said.

Fetzner was first appointed to the job to replace his late boss, David Wiley, in 1992. He then won election to the post six times, the last time in 2013.

He first began working in the courthouse in 1969 after graduating from Strong Vincent High School.

Lawyer Jackson Magenau hired him to perform title searches. Fetzner used money he earned to put himself through Gannon University. He was then hired as deputy clerk of records by Wiley in 1978.

Wiley, Fetzner said, began the process of converting the paper records to microfilm in the 1980s. In the 1990s, Fetzner then worked with the company Infocon to computerize the records and make them available throughout the courthouse.

Where once the sheriff or a district attorney or public defender had to research the records manually, they now had access to the records in their offices through a system that allowed them to add their own records securely.

Attorneys, Realtors and others with a need to access county records may also pay a fee to view the documents online.

"We used to have people walking around with paper from office to office," Fetzner said.

Fees collected by the offices fund the work done in the offices, and they generate additional funds for the county's General Fund, he said.

Fetzner repeatedly advocated pay raises for his staff, given the complexity of the work they perform. He is glad County Council is considering reforming its decades-old pay classification scheme.

Any change won't necessarily cost taxpayers more but should ensure that employee compensation is "evenhanded," he said.

Fetzner's office doors opened and closed repeatedly Friday as well wishers popped in.

Gamble and Robert Catalde, first deputy clerk of courts, said it was difficult to imagine the office without Fetzner.

Fetzner said he knows it is time to go.

"These offices touch every citizen of Erie County. I want to thank the citizens of Erie County for having faith in me. I am proud to have served," he said.

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