The Pacific Northwest Salmon Center is honored to announce Willy O'Neil as being among six finalist nominees to be considered for induction into the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame. During his short but illustrious life and career, Willy was generally known amongst his colleagues, family and friends as an avid fisherman, conservationist and political advocate dedicated to the recovery of our Pacific Northwest Wild Salmon runs. Some accomplishments towards this goal included his work with Associated General Contractor as an Environmental Affairs Manager developing ordinances for local governments. This work included development of non-residential energy codes for WA; consequently implementing standards for conservation work and environmental awareness that were incorporated into adopted State building codes.

Additionally he helped in creating and funding the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee. He spent numerous hours volunteering with Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group's on various projects, fundraising and helping to obtain and maintain an annual allotment of federal funding that many RFEG's rely on for their base operations budget. Willy also worked diligently with legislators and multiple stakeholders to pass the Salmon Recovery Act, which he believed would be the framework for our State's efforts to recover threatened and endangered salmon stocks. When it came to Wild Salmon, Mr. O'Neil kept the pulse of salmon recovery efforts close to his heart.