A man known as a champion of the state parks in the state of Utah will not be soon forgotten, especially in the Uintah Basin. HCR21: Concurrent Resolution to Name a State Park After Fred Hayes unanimously passed in the House and Senate this week as a way to honor the achievements of Fred Hayes, Director of State Parks and Recreation. Mr. Hayes passed away unexpectedly at his home in Heber City last week and an outpouring of tributes have followed, including that of the Utah Legislature with HCR21 which encourages the renaming of Starvation State Park to the Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation. Hayes was born and raised in Duchesne County and started his state parks career in 1982 as a seasonal park ranger aide at Starvation State Park. His motto was “more people having more fun in more parks more often.” As he moved up the state ranks, his motto inspired the vision and strength of the State Parks and Recreation in Utah. When Hayes was appointed as the state parks director he vowed to “fight with our dying breath” to keep every park open, a promise that he kept. “Fred has made a significant contribution to Utah’s diverse and extensive outdoor recreation industry,” shared Governor Gary Herbert at the news of Hayes passing. “His leadership, forward thinking and calming influence have benefitted all those he worked with and forged the division’s success.” For more information on Fred Hayes contribution, visit
www.stateparks.utah.gov
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