Harold J. Haynes

Harold J. (Bill) Haynes Died peacefully at home in San Rafael, California, on Wednesday morning, July 8, 2009 after a year-long struggle with cancer. His family embraced him at his passing with the fullest measure of love, and respect for a life well-lived. He is survived by Reta, his wife of 64 years, and his daughters, Sharon Early, Karen Kowalsky and Toya Fex. He leaves six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren: Michael Early (Linnsey), Jay Early, Patrick Early, Andrea Tagore, Dr. Adam Carewe (Beth), Tyler Carewe (Vanessa), Christen Venn (Berkeley), and Ian Haynes. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren, Hannah Jergensen, Kabir Tagore, Nanik Tagore, Zubin Tagore, Dylan Carewe, and Braden Early. Mr. Haynes was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 29, 1925 to J. C. and Hallie May Haynes. He attended Pascal High School in Fort Worth and, upon graduation, began his studies at a local community college before enrolling at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He married Reta Adams, also of Fort Worth, in 1945. Like many of his generation, Mr. Haynes interrupted college studies to serve in World War II with the U.S. Navy. He returned to continue his studies, and he graduated from Texas A&M in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He then began a 34-year association with the Standard Oil Company of California, now Chevron. He was named president of the company in 1969 and later served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer. It was during this time that he became an active member of the Business Council. Mr. Haynes retired from the Chevron Corporation in 1981 at the age of 55. Mr. Haynes then embarked on a 28-year career as a consultant and trusted advisor to the Bechtel companies, the Bechtel family, and Fremont Group, a privately held investment firm. He served as a member of the boards of directors of Bechtel Group, Inc. and Fremont Group, and chaired Bechtel's board of counselors. Mr. Haynes also served on the board of directors of several prominent companies, including the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), PACCAR Inc, Citicorp-Citibank, Hewlett-Packard, The Boeing Company, and Weyerhaeuser. His leadership also benefited the boards of the California Institute of Technology, Stanford Research Institute, and the American Petroleum Institute. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes have been active members of St. John's Church in Ross, California, and Mr. Haynes offered his experience to church leadership by serving on the vestry for a number of years. He was also very much involved in the Boy Scouts of America, primarily on a local level with the Marin Council and as chairman of the San Francisco Bay Area Council. Mr. Haynes was always grateful for the opportunities that had been afforded him and felt strongly about giving back to the community. To that end, he and Mrs. Haynes established the Haynes Family Foundation. Their generosity has extended to many deserving organizations, primarily those associated with higher education and state-of-the-art medical facilities, and to private companies engaged in the medical research field. They have also endowed two faculty chairs at Texas A&M in the geosciences, a graduate fellowship in civil engineering, and two four-year awards in the President's Endowed Scholars program. The campus building housing the nation's premier facility for coastal engineering research bears their names. Mr. Haynes was honored by his alma mater, receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, as well as top honors from the engineering college and the civil engineering department. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Geosciences and Earth Resources Medal for Distinguished Achievement. In a lasting tribute, more than 60 individuals, corporations, and foundations raised more than $3.5 million in his honor to endow the Harold J. Haynes Dean's Chair in Engineering at the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M, the largest endowed chair at inception in the history of the college. Mr. Haynes was a gentleman, a mentor, a role model, a man of the highest integrity---a kind and thoughtful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His wit and delightful sense of humor made him very approachable and he listened intently to all who sought his wise counsel. He had a passion for the value of hard work, honesty, and fairness, and he exhibited these qualities throughout his professional and personal life. For those of you who knew him, the family hopes that you will reflect on a favorite memory. It could be in the board room, the family room, the living room, over dinner, over lunch and dominoes, on the golf course, in a duck blind, or wading in a river. Whatever memory comes to mind, we hope that it will bring a smile. The family wishes to thank Arlene, Carla, and Josie for the very loving care that they have given Mr. Haynes over the course of this past year. They also wish to thank Hospice by the Bay for their support and guidance, as well as Drs. Alex Metzger, Gary Grossfeld, and David Sperling for their commitment to providing the best medical care for Mr. Haynes. At Mr. Haynes' request, services will be private. If you wish to make a donation in memory of Mr. Haynes, the family suggests a contribution to what will be named the Haynes Cardiovascular Institute at Marin General Hospital. Your donation would benefit a new, state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab. Please send your donation to: Marin General Hospital to benefit the Haynes Cardiovascular Institute Attention: Linda Tavaszi, 250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae, California 94904.