Dick Haley went through Marine Corps boot camp in 1965. The strenuous training seemingly prepared him for four years of military service, including 400 missions on helicopters during the Vietnam War, and a life of nonstop public service in Corona for 30-plus years.
Haley, 61, is the chairman of the mayor's airport task force to determine the safety of Corona Municipal Airport after the Jan. 20 midair collision that killed five people.
He also oversees Corona's investment portfolio of about $200 million as the city treasurer. In addition, he deals with 600 clients as an agent emeritus for the Prudential Insurance Co. He is nearing completion of his first year of study at California Southern Law School in Riverside with a goal of providing legal representation for disadvantaged people.
Haley and his wife, Christine, live in northwest Corona beneath the landing pattern to the airport. They have five grown children. His devotion to the community has been well recognized. The Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year for 1998. The Boy Scouts of the Temescal district, which includes Corona, Norco and Mira Loma, gave him the Distinguished Citizen's award for 1997.
"Dick has a great head on his shoulders and the ability to think analytically and has a lot of common sense," said Corona Mayor Jeff Miller, explaining why he picked Haley to lead the task force of nine. Haley said he hopes to have a report on airport safety done and presented to the Corona City Council by the end of May.
The Federal Aviation Administration will make a report to the task force tonight in the City Council chambers at the Corona Civic Center.
Story continues below
Jerry Soifer / The Press-Enterprise
Dick Haley visits Bob's Chili and Chowder Hall at Corona Municipal Airport. Haley and his wife live in northwest Corona.
Haley has clothing for each of his varied activities. He wears a suit and tie for chamber of commerce events. He has a leather jacket to wear on the motorcycle he rode cross-country four times. He used to wear black shorts and shirt to officiate soccer games and khaki for his work with the Boy Scouts.
"He's a true chameleon," said Corona City Councilwoman Karen Spiegel. "He fits whatever crowd he's in ... He's got so much knowledge to bring to the table no matter what he's involved in."
Haley brings tranquility to whatever activity he attends. "He can come into areas where people are a little bit upset," said former chamber Executive Director Jim Bradley. "By the time he leaves, everybody has calmed down. He has that kind of personality. Everybody knows he's sincere."
Haley attributes much of what he is to his upbringing in the Boston suburb of Fitchburg, Mass., and his father, Ritchie, who died in 2002 at age 84. Haley said his father always arranged his truck routes so he could attend the high school junior varsity football games he played.
"He was always involved with us kids," said Haley. "He was always a Boy Scout leader, an adviser in the church, and involved with my sister in Girl Scouts."
Haley is a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. One of his lifelong goals is to play first base for the Red Sox. He knows that is only possible at a fantasy camp. His other remaining goal is to get a law degree. He is near the end of a very difficult first year.
"I thought with all my years in business and all my years in talking to people, it would be a snap," Haley said. "It's not. It's the most difficult thing I've ever done except for raising five kids."
Haley said he has fulfilled his other goals of raising a great family, attaining success in business, leading a good, clean and moral life, doing a good job in the Marines, and the cross-country motorcycling. Haley completed his associate of arts degree at Riverside Community College Norco campus in 2005. After his discharge from the Marines, he found it too time-consuming to work, raise a family and attend college. So he skipped college until his workload eased.
Haley combines exercise and study. He listens to law lectures on an iPod while he walks a five-mile route. Other times he walks with his wife.
"He's fun to be with," said Christine. "He has a back-Eastern sense of humor that is quite dry ... He can be pretty serious about his job, about school."
Reach Jerry Soifer at 951-893-2112 or jsoifer@PE.com
Haley, 61, is the chairman of the mayor's airport task force to determine the safety of Corona Municipal Airport after the Jan. 20 midair collision that killed five people.
He also oversees Corona's investment portfolio of about $200 million as the city treasurer. In addition, he deals with 600 clients as an agent emeritus for the Prudential Insurance Co. He is nearing completion of his first year of study at California Southern Law School in Riverside with a goal of providing legal representation for disadvantaged people.
Haley and his wife, Christine, live in northwest Corona beneath the landing pattern to the airport. They have five grown children. His devotion to the community has been well recognized. The Chamber of Commerce named him Citizen of the Year for 1998. The Boy Scouts of the Temescal district, which includes Corona, Norco and Mira Loma, gave him the Distinguished Citizen's award for 1997.
"Dick has a great head on his shoulders and the ability to think analytically and has a lot of common sense," said Corona Mayor Jeff Miller, explaining why he picked Haley to lead the task force of nine. Haley said he hopes to have a report on airport safety done and presented to the Corona City Council by the end of May.
The Federal Aviation Administration will make a report to the task force tonight in the City Council chambers at the Corona Civic Center.
Story continues below
Jerry Soifer / The Press-Enterprise
Dick Haley visits Bob's Chili and Chowder Hall at Corona Municipal Airport. Haley and his wife live in northwest Corona.
Haley has clothing for each of his varied activities. He wears a suit and tie for chamber of commerce events. He has a leather jacket to wear on the motorcycle he rode cross-country four times. He used to wear black shorts and shirt to officiate soccer games and khaki for his work with the Boy Scouts.
"He's a true chameleon," said Corona City Councilwoman Karen Spiegel. "He fits whatever crowd he's in ... He's got so much knowledge to bring to the table no matter what he's involved in."
Haley brings tranquility to whatever activity he attends. "He can come into areas where people are a little bit upset," said former chamber Executive Director Jim Bradley. "By the time he leaves, everybody has calmed down. He has that kind of personality. Everybody knows he's sincere."
Haley attributes much of what he is to his upbringing in the Boston suburb of Fitchburg, Mass., and his father, Ritchie, who died in 2002 at age 84. Haley said his father always arranged his truck routes so he could attend the high school junior varsity football games he played.
"He was always involved with us kids," said Haley. "He was always a Boy Scout leader, an adviser in the church, and involved with my sister in Girl Scouts."
Haley is a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. One of his lifelong goals is to play first base for the Red Sox. He knows that is only possible at a fantasy camp. His other remaining goal is to get a law degree. He is near the end of a very difficult first year.
"I thought with all my years in business and all my years in talking to people, it would be a snap," Haley said. "It's not. It's the most difficult thing I've ever done except for raising five kids."
Haley said he has fulfilled his other goals of raising a great family, attaining success in business, leading a good, clean and moral life, doing a good job in the Marines, and the cross-country motorcycling. Haley completed his associate of arts degree at Riverside Community College Norco campus in 2005. After his discharge from the Marines, he found it too time-consuming to work, raise a family and attend college. So he skipped college until his workload eased.
Haley combines exercise and study. He listens to law lectures on an iPod while he walks a five-mile route. Other times he walks with his wife.
"He's fun to be with," said Christine. "He has a back-Eastern sense of humor that is quite dry ... He can be pretty serious about his job, about school."
Reach Jerry Soifer at 951-893-2112 or jsoifer@PE.com
No comments:
Post a Comment