[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO HAZEL WOLF

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2000

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a true leader and pioneer who touched the hearts of the people of 
Washington state. Hazel Wolf, who passed away on January 20, 2000, 
spent her 101 years as a passionate environmentalist, fervent human 
rights activist, and a fighter for the underdog. She is a shining 
example of a person with passion who truly made a contribution to life 
in the Pacific Northwest in the 20th Century.
  Born in 1898 in British Columbia, Ms. Wolf led an extraordinary life. 
During the Depression, employed by the Works Project Administration, 
she set about unionizing workers. In 1979, she helped to organize the 
Indian Conservationist Conference. In 1990, Ms. Wolf met a Soviet 
delegation and held discussions which paved the way for the founding of 
the Leningrad Audubon Society. Like former President Jimmy Carter and 
Senator Dan Evans, she was sent as an observer to the 1990 Nicaraguan 
elections.
  Ms. Wolf has played a prominent role in environmental efforts in 
local national and international arenas. In addition to co-founding the 
Seattle Audubon Society, where she worked as secretary for 26 years, 
she set up more than 20 other local chapters, like the Black Hills 
Audubon Society. Ms. Wolf was also the president of the Federation of 
Outdoor Clubs and editor of its magazine, Outdoor West, member of the 
National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and the Earth 
Island Institute. Her endeavors to improve environmental safety in low 
income inner-city housing were through the Community Coalition for 
Environmental Justice, which she also co-founded.
  Ms. Wolf was a recipient of a number of awards. These include the 
Washington State Department of Game's Award for services in protection 
of wildlife (1978); the State of Washington Environmental Excellence 
Award (1978); State University of New York's Sol Feinstein Award for 
her work with Seattle Audubon's Trailside Series of books on the 
Northwest; the National Audubon Society's Conservationist of the Year 
Award (1978); the Association of Biologists and Ecologists of 
Nicaragua's Award for nature conservation (1988); the People's Daily 
World's Newsmaker Award; and the Washington State Legislature Award for 
environmental work. The Women in Communications group bestowed her with 
their top honor, the Matrix Award for Women of Achievement.
  Hazel Wolf made an indelible mark on our community, our environment 
and our heart. She will be missed and I hope the Washington state 
community will work hard to continue the efforts for the causes she 
fought so hard for throughout her life.

                          ____________________