WHEREAS, David T. Hellyer was a seasoned world traveler by age 12, having lived with his family in Japan, Switzerland, and Great Britain, before moving to Santa Barbara, California; and
     WHEREAS, David T. Hellyer attended Yale University, where he graduated with an Arts and Letters degree in 1936. Following graduation, David, his wife, Connie, and the couple's two elkhounds headed west and landed in Tacoma; and
     WHEREAS, Once in the Northwest, David and Connie fell in love with the country and made a fateful decision to purchase 100 acres of land for $4.50 an acre. The property in rural Pierce County included Horseshoe Lake and a view of Mount Rainier; and
     WHEREAS, David returned to school where he completed premedical courses at the University of Washington and transferred to the University of Chicago Medical School in 1941. World War II came, and after a crash course in medicine, with no time off for summers, David T. Hellyer added M.D. to his name in 1944 and became a Doctor of Pediatrics; and
     WHEREAS, After a stint in the Navy during World War II, it was back to Tacoma for Dr. Hellyer, wife Connie, and daughters Connie, Doro, and Tirrell, where he entered a medical partnership in pediatrics; and
     WHEREAS, Over the years, the Hellyers had purchased bits and pieces of property around Horseshoe Lake and eventually owned nearly a section of land; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. Hellyer retired from a distinguished medical practice at age 60, and remains a Life Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, past President of the North Pacific Pediatric Society, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine; and
     WHEREAS, Retirement allowed Dr. Hellyer to pursue his dream of creating what he has termed a "protected place, a microcosm where North American wildlife would exist in a varied and suitable habitat, where people, especially children, might experience wild animals in the dignity and beauty of a nearly pristine setting"; and
     WHEREAS, Donation by Dr. Hellyer and Connie of the Horseshoe Lake property to the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma began a process to create Northwest Trek Wildlife Park; and
     WHEREAS, The determination, vision, and hard work of Dr. Hellyer, along with the help of his family, General Bill Elder, and a variety of friends, neighbors, and public officials, paid off in 1973 with voter approval of a bond issue for Northwest Trek, which opened to the public on July 17, 1975, with Governor Dan Evans cutting the ribbon, read that log, with a chainsaw; and
     WHEREAS, Internationally renowned zoological park designer Grant Jones has said Northwest Trek "is not just unique in our own region. Northwest Trek is the only open range indigenous wildlife park and outdoor classroom in North America. It has inspired leaders committed to wildlife education from all over the world and has never been matched anywhere. It is truly one of a kind";
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate honor Dr. David T. Hellyer, who last year celebrated his 89th birthday, for his exceptional vision, determination, foresight, and hard work in donating the property and working to make Northwest Trek a facility of national repute that attracts more than 180,000 visitors a year; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Dr. David T. Hellyer and his wife, Connie, with heartfelt thanks of the Washington Senate for a job well done.