“Chuck Haselwood set the bar for philanthropic giving in this community,” said Dr David Mitchell, president of Olympic College.

“He was a special man and he will be missed,” said Bremerton Mayor Carey Bozeman. “You just don’t find people like that very often.”

Haselwood was born and raised in Ellensburg, graduating from Kittitas High School in 1941. Rather than remain in his home town and be trapped in the farming life, Haselwood — who had never owned a car — hitchhiked his way to Bremerton.

Haselwood’s first job was at the Speed Service gas station in downtown Bremerton. He left briefly during World War II, serving two and a half years in the Army, and then returned to Bremerton, where he started his own gas station with partner Danny Jones, selling cars on consignment in the parking lot next to the station.

In 1949 Haselwood and Bud “Hurley” Higgs opened a used car dealership, Chuck and Bud’s, which they co-owned for a decade until Higgs sold out to Haselwood.

After an abortive attempt to enter the new car market with an Edsel franchise, only to have Ford Motor Company abruptly cancel the line, Haselwood eventually opened a Buick franchise.

The Haselwood Auto Group grew to include one of the first Honda dealerships, West Hills Honda, in Washington, as well as dealerships throughout West Sound and Seattle, including Haselwood Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Today Chevrolet-Cadillac and Heartland Toyota. He also at one time owned Acura at Southcenter and Lexus of Bellevue.

Mike O’Brien, a former Seattle Seahawk and owner of the O’Brien Auto Group, which runs a number of luxury car dealerships around Seattle and Tacoma, including stores for Lexus, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Aston Martin, got his start in the car sales industry working for Haselwood during summers while in junior college. “I wouldn’t be where I was today without Chuck,” said O’Brien “It’s not even a question.”

Haselwood’s business ventures paid off. In 2004, the Kitsap County assessor’s office listed the Haselwoods’ county property holdings as worth slightly more than $10 million in assessed value.

“He was the most successful businessman in the history of Kitsap County,” said Mayor Bozemen.

But Haselwood was no miser, and the community benefited from his fortune.

“He grew up very poor,” said Haselwood’s wife, Joanne. “Then he made a lot of money and he felt he could do something to help, that he understood. He said there’s no point in having money if you’re not going to do something constructive with it.”

The Haselwoods’ many contributions to the community include donating $100,000 to the creation of Pendergast Park field and donating $250,000 to help rebuild the Olympic College Library after its roof collapsed in a snowstorm in the mid 1990s — and then donating $100,000 more to seed the Haselwood Library Endowment Fund.

“Chuck Haselwood was a self made man who never forgot his roots and never lost touch with the community,” said Dr Mitchell. “He loved this community and out of gratitude for his success sponsored all kinds of projects that made our community a better place to live. He and his wife, Joanne, were constantly willing to commit a portion of their own wealth to improving the lives of others. His legacy is a lasting one, and we are proud that Olympic College’s Library bears the Haselwood name.”

The Haselwood family has contributed to the Admiral Theatre, and committed $4 million to build the Bremerton Ice Arena.

“He always had a community spirit about him,” said Joanne Haselwood. “He loved Bremerton. He loved kids and sports.”

Haselwood is survived by his wife, daughters Camille Kucinski of Gig Harbor, Stephanie Armstrong of Port Orchard; Andrea Dixon of Port Orchard, Julie Lea of Bremerton; sons Michael Wiler and Rick Wiler of Bremerton; 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.