The Clallam County commissioners formally said goodbye and thank you Tuesday, Dec. 22, to Public Works Director Craig Jacobs, who retires Dec. 31 after 30 years with the county.

"He's going to be really missed around here. I worked with him for 22 years," said Clallam County personnel director Marge Upham.

"He's the encyclopedia of Clallam County and I'm really going to miss that. I did my best to get him to change his mind, but he said he wouldn't do that," she said.

Jacobs was hired by the county parks board on July 23, 1979, as the parks director, which later was expanded to director of parks, recreation and fair. He was promoted to public works director on Nov. 1, 2001.

Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, said Jacobs was the consummate professional.

"He worked well with the parks board and helped build the best county parks system in the state. He had a lot of credibility with the state funding agencies so he had a lot of success with grants," Tharinger said.

Then as public works director, Jacobs continued that same professionalism while working with roads and buildings, he said.

"He is one of the core department heads. It will be a loss," Tharinger said.

Jacobs is responsible for 13 of the county's 19 parks, including Dungeness Landing, Robin Hill Farm, Quillayute River, Clallam Bay, Pillar Point, Cline Spit and the Agnew soccer fields.

In 1979, he helped pass a bond issue for the Camp David Jr. Park renovation, which was done in 1980-1981.

In 1994, Jacobs oversaw construction of the Juvenile and Family Services Department building at 1912 W. 18th St.

Then in 1998-1999, he supervised the historical county courthouse renovation.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@

sequimgazette.com.