Graham’s City Service Isn’t Over

DAYTON -- After 16 years serving the city of Dayton as a city councilman and mayor, Bill Graham was ready to hang up his hat. But after sixmonth retirement from serving the city, he now is back in the council seat again.

Graham, who has lived in Dayton for 30 years as of this August, retired from city council on Jan. 1.

His position was listed as vacant and after the city tried to fill it and failed to find any interested residents, Graham said he decided to reapply and was appointed to the council at its meeting on Monday, July 9.

Graham said he originally moved to Dayton to become a pastor at the First Congregational Church, where he worked for 12 or 13 years after graduating from Whit- man College with a degree in English literature.

In his free time, Graham, now 81 years old, does woodworking.

"I'm working on three boats right now," Graham said. "I build all sorts of fur- niture."

While he used to do his woodworking in a shop in downtown Dayton, now he works out of his basement.

Mayor Craig George said the council members were sad to see Graham go when he resigned last winter, but George said he knew that Graham had to put his health first.

"Now he's feeling better and he wants to run again," George said. "He just wants to serve Dayton."

After two open heart sur- geries, a shoulder replacement and a piece of metal inserted in his wrist, Graham, still laughs when he talks about his health.

"I haven't been easy on myself," Graham said.

Graham said he is kind of like the Six Million Dollar Man, a past TV series about a former astronaut with bionic implants.

The two pieces of his body that haven't been are his legs, he said jokingly. Gra- ham said before he had his shoulder replaced, it clicked and made noises like a robot arm.

Graham's absence was felt during his hiatus from the council. George said they were unable to fill the vacant city council position. Graham said he was happy to have skipped the campaign- ing.

"He's done a great job for the community," George said. "He's always done what's best for the city."

Graham's sense of civic duty has found its way into his personal life as well. He spends time every morning drinking coffee with notable community members including a hospital board chair- man, a couple of farmers and a few active community members.

The group discusses ev- erything from wheat prices to activity around Dayton and George said the group has proven useful for the city council.

"Sometimes that's how we learn about things go- ing on in the community," George said. "Because the group gets together and has coffee in the morning. They discuss things and make some good points."

Graham said his return to the council will be enjoyable because of the dynamic the council maintains.

When Graham first started on city council sixteen years ago, he said the council had problems being productive because they had a hard time getting along. He said he likes to see a council like the current one because they are better for the city and its residents.

"The council now has been responsible and respectful," Graham said. "They don't always agree but they have a common goal, the bet- tering of Dayton."