SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2018
5 A
Clockwise from left: Wilbur Ternyik
(left) with Oregon Gov. Tom McCall
in the ’70s; Ternyik with past Oregon
Senator Mark Hatfield; Ternyik next
to his likeness in the form of a
bronze statue created in his honor.
SIUSLAW NEWS/FILE PHOTO
PHOTOS:: O R EG ON C OA S T A L ZO NE M A NA GE ME NT AS S O CI A T IO N ( OC ZM A )
Legacy
from 1A
OCCDC spent four years
developing
management
guidelines for a wide array of
ocean and water related
ecosystems, ultimately passing
laws addressing difficult
issues, due in large part to
Ternyik’s gravitas.
Ternyik was selected to head
the group that eventually con-
sisted of public officials, envi-
ronmental advocates and rep-
resentatives of the business
community.
He was a forceful presence
on the committee, and his
extensive knowledge and
experiences working in the
field were persuasive and often
formed the basis for the
group’s policies.
Many of the protocols sug-
gested by the group were
adopted, with many still in use,
and currently overseen by the
OCCDC.
In the 1980s, Ternyik was
employed by the federal gov-
ernment to teach marsh and
wetland restoration techniques
to individuals working in state
and federal agencies, sharing
his wisdom and passion.
He and his wife Joyce were
married in 1962, raised five
children and worked together
on many of Ternyik’s projects.
The couple spent their retire-
ment years working with state
officials to rehabilitate injured
wildlife, fostering and caring
for a menagerie at their home.
During his work on the
OCCDC, Ternyik became a
close friend and confidant to
U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield
and the two maintained a
friendship until Hatfield’s
passing in 2011.
Ternyik shared his observa-
tions and techniques for beach
restoration with the public in
1979, with the release of his
book, “Beach and Dune
Implementation Techniques,”
which is widely regarded as a
primer in the field of beach
restoration.
Ternyik also served the City
of Florence with distinction in
a number of important capaci-
ties over a 30 year period.
He served on the city coun-
cil for 16 years and on the Port
of Siuslaw Commission for 29
years. He also served twice as
mayor, first from 1985 to 1988
and then from 1991 to 1992.
Florence Mayor Joe Henry,
now in his second term, regrets
that he did not get to know his
predecessor better.
“In reading about this
incredible man, it strikes me
that too often the accomplish-
ments of those in the past go
unnoticed until they depart this
earth. I for one had no idea of
the history and accomplish-
ments of this man and I am
humbled,” Henry said. “I think
that it serves as a reminder to
all of us that regardless of how
much we are accomplishing
today, we need to look to the
past and remember people like
Wilbur who have helped
Florence to become Oregon’s
premier coastal community.”
In 1971, Ternyik was hon-
ored with the distinction of
becoming the Florence First
Citizen. He also later served on
the
Lane
Council
of
Governments and with the
Oregon
Coastal
Zone
Management Association.
Roblan said he fondly
remembered the manner in
which Ternyik conducted him-
self on a personal level, appre-
ciating the colorful man’s abil-
ity to listen to others and still
figure out a way to come to a
common solution.
“Wilbur was a gentleman
and a scholar that helped
establish our coastal environ-
mental
practices,
which
became a model for the rest of
the world,” Roblan said.
“Additionally, he had a unique
ability to bring people togeth-
er, to find common ground.
“Wilbur was a great man
who will be missed by many of
us that were fortunate enough
to work with him.”
Roblan gave a tribute to
Ternyik’s work in 2009 in the
Oregon
House
of
Representatives, saying, “He
has been an integral part of the
City of Florence. ... I just want
people to recognize his ability
to bring people together, espe-
cially the coastal communi-
ties.”
People can view the brief
video at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=4jBBJ9ooq6s.
The
Siuslaw
Pioneer
Museum in Florence has an
extensive
collection
of
Wilbur’s correspondence, pho-
tographs and a bronze bust that
captures Ternyik’s spirit and
fire. It was sculpted by
Lorenzo E. Ghiglieri with a
pedestal by Rainy Arago and
dedicated May 27, 2006.
The
sculpture
shows
Ternyik from the waist up in
his buckskin jacket and hold-
ing his combination tomahawk
and peace pipe.
Public services for Ternyik
will be held at the Florence
Events Center, 715 Quince St.,
on Sunday, April 29, at 1 p.m.
According to Rosie Shatkin,
Legislative Policy Advisor to
Roblan, the senator plans to
sponsor a legislative memorial
honoring Ternyik’s service,
which could be the naming of a
highway.
th
April 8-14
This m essage
g bro
roug
ught
g ht t o y
you
yo
u by
y t he
hese
se s p
po
pons
o ns
nsor
or r s:
s :
City Lights Cinemas
1930 Hwy 101, Florence
541-305-0014
Craig Draft ing & Design
P.O. Box 2018, Florence
541-997-6926 • Cell 541-999-8804
Pacifi c Frameworks
2420 Hwy 101, Florence
541-997-1138
Oregon Coast Magazine
541-997-8401
Kiwanis Club of Florence
fl orencekiwanis.org
Goodman’s Floor Covering
394 Kingwood Street, Florence
541-997-1080
Coast Insurance
777 Maple Street, Florence
541-997-3455
FRIENDS HELP
CELEBRATE
NATIONAL
LIBRARY WEEK
Boys & Girls Club of Western Lane County
1501 Airport Rd., Florence
541-902-0304
Hunt Family Dentistry
950 9th St., Florence
541-997-7181
Th e Friends will be
having a
Port Hole Books
179 Laurel Street, Florence
541-902-9091
Library Book Sale
Ray Wells Inc
1770 Laurel Place, Florence
541-997-2054
Tuesday,
April 10th
&
Wednesday,
April 11th
Chad Clement, DDS, P.C.
1256 Bay Street, Florence
541-997-3423
Terrace Homes
2825 Highway 101, Florence
541-997-3144
Siuslaw News
148 Maple Street, Florence
thesiuslawnews.com • 541-997-3441