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How High's the Water, Erwin?
By Norma-Lee
In his paternal great-grandparent's home on June 25, 1936, Erwin Hayer entered the world just south of Modesto. His proud parents were Roiden Earl Hayer and Lillian Clark Parker Hayer. For the next five years, this dairy farm would be home. But WWII was waging so Roiden took his family to Rio Linda where he would work at McClellan Field.
Their home in Rio Linda had actually, been built by Erwin's grandfather, Oley Hayer, in 1920. The Hayer family had previously resided here where Erwin's father and Uncle Elmer graduated elementary school in the same Class of 1927.
Their next home was also in Rio Linda where Erwin learned to arc weld. Taught by his father, Roiden needed his son's help to design and build specialized farm equipment that was not available commercially. He also had the duty of caring for and milking the family cow, a chore he performed twice a day, every day. Erwin attended and graduated Rio Linda Grammar School (1942-1950), Grant Union High School (1950-1954) after which he spent one year at Grant Technical Junior College. By this time, though, he realized that he wanted to work with his hands so he ended his formal education. During high school, he had been involved with track and field, and the FFA, in which he held office. He entered the Agriculture Mechanics competition at the annual UC Davis Picnic, and came in second among entrants from all over Northern California. He was well prepared for this competition after rebuilding his father's Oliver 70 tractor's 6-cylinder engine while still in grammar school!
In
1946, Roiden leased 303 acres (because of the existing dam and water
availability) and started the dairy farm which he subsequently
purchased the next year. So now at age 10, Erwin began to acquire his
vast knowledge of creeks, watersheds, and flood plains by helping to
maintain the dam. Besides running a dairy farm, the elder Hayer, with
the help of Ed Bailey, built Bailey's Field, (1948) that included an
1800-foot runway. The existing Rio Linda Airport opened on March 1,
1963.Erwin (who now holds a private pilots license) joined the Air National Guard in 1954 and completed Air Force Flight Line Ground Power School in June, 1956. He stayed with the Guard until 1995 and worked his way up to Senior Master Sergeant. His years of service included two tours in Korea (Team Spirit exercise) and helping at many disasters including forest fires, floods, riots, and earthquakes where he would help set up "tent cities" by providing power, heat and air. He also became certified as an Airlift of Hazardous Materials specialist, and a load and balance expert.
Using the vast knowledge of floods, watersheds, and the waterways in general which he acquired by walking countless miles to personally observe them, Erwin has become an invaluable resource for advice on these matters. He has made many contacts over the years and now belongs to (or attends meetings of) organizations such as The Dry Creek Watershed Council, Placer County Flood Control Agency (to monitor Placer developments as they relate to water flow affecting Rio Linda/Elverta), Sacramento Chapter of The Urban Creek Council, RL/E Chamber of Commerce and Dry Creek Conservancy. He supports and advises the RL/ E Recreation and Park District, the RL/E Water District. and the Community Planning Council (formerly CPAC) on flooding risks.
He married Sandra Kay Carlton in April 1966, and together, they raised three sons. They now also have 12 grandchildren.
If anyone deserves to be named Citizen of the Decade, it would be Erwin Earl Hayer.