As we march into 2012, let's pause to remember some of the people who contributed to public life in Whatcom County, and who died the past year.
FRANK ATWOOD, LEGISLATOR
A prominent Bellingham attorney, Atwood served on the City Council for six years in the late 1950s and early 1960s before winning election to the state Senate despite running as a Republican in the Democratic-leaning 42nd District.
During his 12 years in the Senate, Atwood held several leadership positions, served on the powerful budget committee and was a strong advocate for Western Washington University. He also was active with numerous public boards and civic and fraternal groups.
Atwood died July 9. He was 84.
SHARON CROZIER, LAKE ACTIVIST
Crozier had already kept cancer at bay for nearly two decades when she brought fresh attention to the health of Lake Whatcom by seeking a ban on motorboats on the lake.
Her call for a total ban wasn't adopted, but the County Council in 2004 approved a phased ban of highly polluting two-stroke boat engines, and the Bellingham City Council OK'd a similar ban the following year.
Crozier also ran for Bellingham office twice, once for mayor and once for City Council, and was a newspaper editor and publisher, a writer and a real estate agent.
She died Nov. 13 at the age of 71.
HUGH FLEETWOOD, PROFESSOR AND ADVOCATE
A philosophy professor at Western Washington University, Fleetwood was a longtime member and leader of the local and state American Civil Liberties Union, an early supporter of Whatcom County's public defender's office, and a key leader of Interfaith Coalition, which supports housing and medical programs for needy people in the county.
Fleetwood died July 17. He was 81.
DON HAGGEN, GROCERY EXECUTIVE
In 1977, Haggen and his younger brother, Rick, took over Haggen Inc., which had been established by their parents, Bennett and Dorothy Haggen.
Together, the brothers made Haggen the largest independent grocer in the Northwest, with 34 stores at its peak, under the Haggen and Top foods brands. Earlier in 2011, the family sold a majority stake in Haggen Inc. to a Florida investment firm.
Haggen and the business that bore the family name both actively supported numerous community groups and services.
Haggen died Aug. 26. He was 80.
ART LAWRENSON, BLAINE MAYOR
A longtime Blaine resident, Lawrenson owned several businesses through the years, including the Cafe International, Wagon Wheel Tavern and the Forest Grove Ballroom. He served as Blaine's mayor from 1969 to 1973, and was president of Blaine Chamber of Commerce.
He died June 16 at the age of 82.
BILL LEWIS, LYNDEN TRIBUNE EXECUTIVE
Lewis and his brother, Julian, assumed second-generation control of the Lynden Tribune after their father, Sol Lewis, died in 1953.
As co-publisher and editor of the newspaper until his retirement in 1984, Bill Lewis played a leading civic role in Lynden, writing columns, helping community groups and promoting local projects, including the creation of Lynden Pioneer Museum and the restoration of Berthusen Park.
Lewis died June 23 at the age of 90.
PAUL RUSHING, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Rushing worked as Bellingham's assistant city engineer in the early 1970s, then held several Whatcom County government posts before becoming the county's first public works director in 1978. He held the post until 1993, then worked as an independent contractor to oversee completion of the $25 million expansion and remodel of the County Courthouse.
A Ferndale resident, Rushing died May 6. He was 84.
JAMES SCOTT, GEOGRAPHY PROFESSOR
A professor at Western Washington University from 1966 to 1993, Scott helped create the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, an important archival collection of local and Northwest materials.
His research interests included pioneer settlement and economic development in the Northwest, with numerous books and articles on the subjects, including "Washington: A Centennial Atlas" and the "Historical Atlas of Washington."
Scott died July 20. He was 85.
