A tip of the hat to George Hanigan

We mourn the death of Cathlamet resident George Hanigan.

A fourth generation Wahkiakum County resident, George holds a place in the county's history.

I was a kid back in 1966 when my father came home and told us about the new attorney who had grown up in Cathlamet, gone to college in Spokane and moved back to Cathlamet, to a house just down the street from us. My father had made a new friend, a friendship that lasted to his death.

George soon won election as prosecuting attorney and began playing a guiding role in county government. In the 1970's, while I was out of the area, he led the formation of the county's Cumulative Reserve Funds, which the county set up to channel revenue from state managed county trust timberland into local uses. That has brought millions of dollars into our communities over the years.

I moved back to Cathlamet in 1979 and, as a reporter, encountered George in his role of prosecuting attorney. I quickly learned he was one of those rare elected officials who could separate "The Job" from "Personal Life." He was all business when he needed to be, and a genuine person the rest of the time. He was a true champion of open government and over the years, he kept our local officials from becoming secretive. As a reporter, I greatly appreciated that.

George became my friend, too. We enjoyed morning coffee visits, traveled to Mule basketball games and came up with solutions that would have solved problems around the world, if given the chance.

Thanks, George, for all you've done. We'll miss you.