Building dedicated in honor of Harry Whiteley

May 9, 2013 Editor featured

2013-HHW-Family — Surrounded by his family, Harry Whiteley stands by the sign next to the building which now bears his name. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

A crowd of several hundred was on hand to honor a man for a lifetime of achievement on the statewide level.

Harry H. Whiteley’s lifetime commitment to Michigan’s natural resources was honored Thursday, May 9 with the dedication of a new building at the Ralph MacMullen Conference (RAM) Center in Roscommon.

Whiteley served more than 25 years on the Natural Resources Commission, including six terms as chairman, which is more than any other person in the 92-year history of the commission.

e former Presque Isle County Advance publisher was the youngest person to ever serve on the then Michigan Conservation Commission. He was 41 when Gov. John Swainson made the appointment.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) director Keith Creagh, in a November letter to Whiteley stated “for some time, several influential individuals have been advocating for a public, lasting recognition of your many years of service to the state of Michigan.”

In his honor, the new conservation education building with a new classroom addition is now known as the Harry H. Whiteley Conservation Education Building.

(More from this event will be posted later on this site and in the next edition of the Presque Isle County Advance.)