[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING MIKE HAYWARD AND HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE 
                    PEOPLE OF WALLOWA COUNTY, OREGON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend 
Mike Hayward for his many years of dedicated public service in Wallowa 
County. Mike has retired after serving 19 years on the Wallowa County 
Board of Commissioners, serving 15 of those years as Chairman, and I 
would like to pay tribute to his leadership for the people of Wallowa 
County and northeastern Oregon.
   Born and raised in Pullman, Washington, Mike developed an early 
affinity for the outdoors, taking jobs in agriculture in his youth 
before going on to earn a degree in forestry from Washington State 
University. While at Washington State, he earned a summer internship 
that stationed him at Wallowa Lake State Park in Joseph, Oregon. After 
graduation, he was hired on full time at the park, which is where he 
eventually met his future wife, Beverly.
   Mike's work with Oregon State Parks took him around the state, but 
in 1980, he and Bev felt the pull to return to Wallowa County and be 
closer to their family. Shortly thereafter, Mike took his management 
skills into the private sector when he and Bev bought Eagle Cap Chalets 
at the base of the Wallowa Mountains, which they managed for 8 years.
   Surrounded by federally managed public forest and range lands, 
timber and livestock production has long been the base of Wallowa 
County's economy. Mike's knowledge of forestry and agriculture as well 
as several years of community leadership roles, including a seat on the 
Joseph City Council and time spent directing the local Chamber of 
Commerce, led several of his close friends to suggest he run for County 
Commissioner in 1997.
   Since then, Mike has constantly kept a sharp eye out for 
opportunities to represent and defend the County's interests as a 
leader of a number of organizations including the Grand Ronde Model 
Watershed Council, Northeast Oregon Housing Authority, Association of 
Oregon Counties, Wallowa-Union Railroad, and several regional forestry 
collaboratives and resource advisory committees.
   When 57 percent of your county is controlled and often mismanaged by 
the federal government, working to grow the economy and opportunities 
for the local communities can be an understandably frustrating process 
at times. Yet, Mike's knowledgeable, hard-working and even-keeled 
approach led him to become recognized as a leader on public lands and 
other natural resource issues affecting counties across eastern Oregon.
   Over the years, I got to know Mike well and came to rely on this 
counsel as well. Whether it is travel management plans on the Wallowa-
Whitman, or the on-going Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision process, I 
appreciated Mike's useful input and insight as we worked together to 
find creative solutions to the challenges facing Wallowa County and 
their neighbors in northeast Oregon.
   As Mike takes on his new role as General Manager for the Wallowa 
County Grain Growers, his retirement from elected office doesn't mean 
Wallowa County will be losing his leadership or knowledge. Dedicated to 
his community, I know Mike will find a number of ways to continue 
serving and giving back. For the last six years, Mike and Bev have 
donated and served a community wide Thanksgiving Dinner in Enterprise. 
Such acts of generosity are a perfect example of the dedication Mike 
has shown over the years to the fellow members of his community.
   Above all, Mike is dedicated to his family. He and Bev returned to 
the county over 36 years ago to be closer to family, and I know that he 
is now looking forward to having a little more time to spend with his 
wife and grandchild.
   Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, please join me in recognizing and 
thanking my good friend, Mike Hayward, for his many years of leadership 
in Wallowa County. I wish Mike all the best in his new pursuits.

                          ____________________