HOQUIAM, WA. December 3, 1954---Stephen A. Girard, pioneer resident of Hoquiam for more than 70 years, nationally prominent in the Fraternal Order of Eagles and widely known in state-wide political and legislative circles, died last night of a heart attack while attending a Centralia Eagles lodge meeting.
Mr. Girard, accompanied by several Aberdeen and Hoquiam members, collapsed about 10:15 PM and died several minutes after. Artificial respiration by members in attendance and oxygen administered by Centralia firemen failed to revive him. A Centralia physician pronounced him dead. He spoke shortly after the official address by the state president, Lonnie Amos, of Toppenish.
Known as the "grand old man of Eagledom", at the time of his death he was serving as chairman of the state membership board of the Eagles and was the oldest living past state president. He served in 1918.
Born in Carbonado, Washington, November 16, 1881, he came to Hoquiam with his family in 1884. He watched the growth of Hoquiam from a village of 10 families, to one of the lumber centers of the world, up to the present day.
He attended Hoquiam schools, participating in football and baseball on school and independent teams. He held an honorary life membership in the Association of Professional Baseball Players of America. He remained an ardent sports fan all his life. Until a few years ago he was an active sports fisherman.
He was married to Lena Rogers of the pioneer Rogers' family in Montesano on November 11, 1903. The Girards observed their golden wedding anniversary last year. He observed his 73rd birthday on November 16. The Girards have three children, a son and two daughters. A third daughter died about 15 years ago.
For many years, prior to retiring in January 1937, he was associated with the Polson Logging company and later with the Vance Lumber company and other firms in timber buying and other capacities.
Active in local, state and national political circles, Girard served 20 years as secretary of the Grays Harbor Republican central committee and for several years he was deputy county assessor. He served for 25 years as secretary of the Hoquiam civil service commission, resigning about five years ago.
During World War I, Mr. Girard served on the county exemption board and during World War II was an air raid wardens' captain.
In 1925, he was one of the leading figures in the Eagles' fight for passage of legislation to provide for an old-age pension in the state and elimination of the poor farms. He served o the state Eagles old-age pension committee to see the program actually carried out with payments under the governorship of Clarence D. Martin. He was closely associated in the program with the late Frank Dowd, "grand old man" of the Seattle Eagles lodge.
He was a delegate to the Republican convention in Chicago in 1932 when he became personally acquainted with Nicholas Murray Butler, Will Rogers, Ogden mills, then secretary of the treasury. He was also personally acquainted with such sports figures as Babe Ruth, Earl Averill, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Marty O'Toole and Vean Gregg.
The oldest living member of Hoquiam aerie No. 252, he joined the order in 1903 before the charter was closed. He became president in 1915 and the same year he started through state chairs. He attended his fir grand aerie session in Seattle in 1908 and later served as assistant to many nation presidents.
He also was a member of West Haven lodge No. 274, F&AM, and Afifi temple of the Shrine.
In recent years he spent much of his time at the state legislature lobbying for Eagles and for other legislation.
Besides his wife at the family home, 2217 Aberdeen Avenue, Hoquiam, he is survived by a son, Stephen A. Girard, Jr. Toledo, Ohio, operating head of Kaiser Motors; two daughters, Mrs. C. Timothy (Margaret) Smith of Aberdeen, and Esther Myers of Coulee Dam; grandchildren, Margo Smith of Aberdeen, Mary Wilson at the University of Washington, Richard Wilson in the navy at San Diego, Julie, Caron, Stephanie and Stephen A., III, all of Toledo, and numerous nieces and nephews.