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ODOT-TSD Driver Ed Program Manager Loses Battle with Cancer
A "Farewell Address" by Bill Warner
John "Harv" Harvey 1945 - 2009 |
LEGACY - This is the word you hear most when you hear people talking about Harv's "gift" to Driver Education. This man created and moved in a social network that elevated Driver Education to new heights in several states and developed a team of bright, impassioned proteges who have become part of his legacy to national Driver Education.
Did you know that Harv was a high school and college driver education teacher and administrator for 38 years in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, and Washington. He has been Oregon's Driver Education program manager for the past 7+ years.
He knew everybody! |
But he was much more than that. In an era before "social networking" was even en vogue, Harv was a driven man, connecting people and agencies all over the country in an effort to elevate the cause of Driver Education. You could not go anywhere with Harv without him stopping and introducing you to this person or that leader of some agency somewhere. It was always a fuzzy blur to try and keep up with him, but he always remembered not only the people's names, but their children, where they worked, places they had visited, etc. It was like walking around with a human encyclopedia of "who's who" on your shoulder; kind of like Jiminy Cricket, but bigger.
I always appreciated the way the Harv's boss, Troy was so supportive of him. In an article about Harv, when he was awarded the national Kaywood Award, Troy said,"Oregon is so fortunate to have one of the highest caliber of driver training professionals running our teen driver education program... John's enthusiasm and zeal for making our youngest drivers as safe as they can be is just simply contagious. Every one of us in ODOT that will be sending a child through driver education can be assured that Oregon students are part of the best program in the nation." Just ask any of the staff at Transportation Safety Division; they all felt the same way!
Boy, oh Boy, Could he get excited about a Costco Hot Dog! |
Today, (August 15th) Rich and I went to Costco for lunch. We sat and ate our hotdog and reminisced about Harv and his silly Costco lunch fetish. That was one of my first memories of Harv; when we would be over at the HR center approaching a lunch break or sometimes just driving through Salem and Harv would say "Let's go to Costco... they have a hotdog AND a soda WITH a FREE REFILL for $1.50" It made me laugh to remember my friend in one of his candid moments. And, it makes me miss him as well.
My Mentor and Friend |
At the risk of rambling on and on, I will end my farewell address to John by one last picture and a final thought. In my almost 50 years of living, I have had opportunity to meet and be with many special and gifted people. There are a couple of you out there reading this right now who know you are also on my "top ten" list, but this is my final opportunity to let everyone know that Harv is one of the most special persons I have ever had the privilege to know. He has been my mentor and friend, as well as confidant and dream-sharer. He always knew how to round the corners of my sometimes rough demeanor and make me feel special even as he did it. Thank you Harv for showing me love and care. I Love you buddy!
If anyone wants to share pictures or thoughts about Harv, feel free to email me at the email address at the bottom of this article. I will do my best to put them on the site a.s.a.p.