"... To preserve the memory of the Washington State Department of Transportation fallen workers and to provide assistance
WSDOT Memorial Foundation
WSDOTMF: Supporting Employees and Families in Need
The Washington State Department of Transportation Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to WSDOT employees disabled in the line of duty, families of Fallen Workers, and those impacted by catastrophic illness or injury. Funded by donations and events, the Foundation is governed by a board of directors and registered with the Secretary of State, Combined Fund Drive, and the IRS.
Monthly Memorial Tribute
This month we pay tribute to and remember these WSDOT employees who died in work zone incidents:
Henry D. Willis, April 16, 1954, Southwest Region, engineer laborer. Henry was killed while drilling a test hole near PUD electrical lines on a highway relocation project between Cathlamet and Skamokawa. A co-worker received an electrical shock trying to save Henry, but survived.
Harrell J. Shull, April 29, 1959, South Central Region, maintenance technician. Harrell was killed near Saddle Mountain east of Ellensburg when he was struck by a passing vehicle while removing trash from a ditch along a highway. A co-worker was also injured in the crash.
2025 Worker Memorial
The Memorial Foundation directors attended the Worker Memorial Event in Olympia on April 23, 2025, to honor and remember the WSDOT fallen workers. Foundation President John Conrad read the names of all the fallen workers at the event. Other speakers at the event included Pasco Bakotich (WSDOT), Belle Williams, Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith, and State Patrol Assistant Chief Shannon Bendiksen.
As pictured L to R: Steve Nevey (WSF), John Vezina (WSF), Andrea Fortune (Foundation Director), Mike Frucci (Director), Julie Meredith (Secretary of Transportation), Pasco Bakotich (Director), Todd Trepanier (Director), Don Clotfelter, Troy Cowan (Director), Dave Bierscbach (Treasurer), Chris Keifenheim (Director), John Conrad (President), Jay Wells, Mike Gribner (Director), Pat Morin (Director), Tom Pridmore (Facilities), Bill Ford (Executive Director), Doug Vaughn (Director), Zack Aguirre (Maintenance-MAP Team), Charles Smith (HQ Maintenance) and Jacob Hausdorf (Emergency Management)