Mayor Wayne Harman dies at 97

Howard Wayne Harman – known to the Orting community as Mayor Wayne – passed away January 2, 2014 of a stroke. He was 97.

Harman served as Orting’s 31st mayor for 16 years from 1974-1989, contributing to a family legacy. In 1906, Harman’s father Harry became Orting’s seventh mayor, and in 1914 Harman’s uncle Icey became Orting’s 13th mayor. Harman also served on the city council for six years beginning in 1967, was a life-long member of the Orting Lions and a charter member of the Orting Historical Society since 2004. Born Dec. 13, 1916, he attended Orting schools and graduated from Orting High School as class Valedictorian in 1934.

During Harman’s mayoral tenure, Orting celebrated its Centennial in 1989. Harman appointed a Centennial Committee, which planned a big birthday celebration for the city and put together a lasting memorial: the Bell Tower which continues today to be at the center of many community events, such as the annual Tree Lighting in December. Also built during Harman’s tenure is Orting’s Multipurpose Center, which includes the library.
Wife Beth also remembers the years Harman served as mayor as hard-working and hands-on. “Anytime the city crew had to go out, so did Wayne,” Beth said.
She especially remembers one rainy Sunday. Harman had gone out very early with the city crew to help clear culverts and dig drainage ditches. At 9 a.m., a man appeared at the house, complaining that the water was half way up his porch steps.

“I asked him, ‘What do you expect him to do, drink it?’” Beth laughed.
Others remember his ingenuity. Once when Harman was called upon to fix a piece of city equipment, he ran home and got his generation’s version of duck tape: bailing wire.

Most community members will remember Harman as a young-at-heart, teasing man with lots of energy. City administrator Mark Bethune said, “Wayne continued to come by city hall frequently. He would call me over and ask, ‘So what are you doing today to ruin the town?’”

Truth is, Harman continued to support the efforts of city government and local charities that help citizens in need. Just days before his stroke, Harman attended Orting Senior Center’s Christmas Party Dec. 19.
During World War II, Harman entered the U.S. Army Air Corps (which later became the U.S. Air Force) in 1942, He served in the South Pacific and met his future wife at a staging area in Australia.

“A young lady had been invited to a dance at the enlisted men’s club by a buddy of Wayne’s. At the last minute, the buddy was called away and he asked Wayne to call her and tell her,” Beth explained.
In true mischievous style, instead of just telling the young lady his buddy could not attend, Wayne invited her to attend the dance with him.

“And the sequel of that story is that she never went with anyone else,” Beth said.

They were married in June 1950 and during that year Harman was summoned multiple times to re-enlist in the Air Force. Finally he agreed and during his military career he reported to McChord Air Force Base, was stationed in Korea, Colorado Springs, Italy, Virginia and Texas. Together the Harmans had two sons: Steve, born in 1951 and Dave born in 1953. Wayne retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1966 and returned to Orting, where he immediately began building his family home beside his childhood home on Harman Way.

Beth remembers her husband’s meticulous planning and participation in every aspect of the project. “For every expert he hired, he hired each to be their assistant,” she explained.

A celebration of Harman’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 25 in Chilson Hall at the Washington Soldiers Home.

(Sam Colorossi contributed to the research for this article.)