| Gary "The Haz" Haslam, Superior Athlete and More |
 "He was a Bellevue guy. Born at Overlake hospital and schooled at Sunset, Tyee and Newport. Gary grew up in the Monthaven neighborhood adjacent to the Edgebrook Club. With two older brothers and a sister that were swimmers and a neighborhood full of swimmers, it was natural for him to gravitate to the pool. Edgebrook provided an excellent focal point for his competitive swimming activity and his introduction to Water Polo. Though he enjoyed other sports; baseball, soccer and tennis during his school years, it was through swimming that he had his greatest success. Starting at age eight, he swam competitively through the age group ranks and played Water Polo in the Midlakes Summer League until he became eligible for interscholastic high school competition. Entering high school competition as a ninth grader, Gary focused his commitment equally toward competitive swimming and water polo. His success in age group competition during the summer league contributed to the goals and success accomplished through his senior year at Newport. In 1982, at the State Finals swim meet, Gary won two individual state titles, one in the 100 meter butterfly, and the other in 100 meter backstroke. His winning time in the backstroke broke a ten year state record, and earned him honors as a high school All-American. That same year, he reached another milestone with a title in the 100 meter backstroke at the National Junior Olympics in Austin, Texas. During his competitive swimming, Gary never lost sight of his love for water polo. He played four years at Newport High School, earning All-State honors each of those years. During his senior year, Gary was named the Most Valuable Player for the 1982 state tournament. As an additional bonus, following the state tournament, Gary was invited to a training session at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He accepted an athletic scholarship for varsity swim team at the University of Washington and after two years Gary ended his competitive swimming career to focus on finishing his degree. Some say Gary swam competitively just to stay in shape for water polo. While he was committed to both sports and appreciated their different rewards, Gary continued to maintain his relationships with fellow "polo" players, and continued to enjoy water polo as a valuable part of his social life and recreation. Gary completed studies for a Construction Management degree in 1986. Following a short stint with Unico Properties in Seattle, he moved to Dallas, Texas to join Glitsch, Inc., a company that specialized in products for the oil refinement industry. During his growth with the company's marketing department he completed his Master's in Business Administration degree at Souther Methodist University. While a Texas bachelor, he met Marlene Meserve, an American Airlines flight attendant from the Bellevue area (the Meserve family was distinguished Edgebrook Club charter members), and they were married in November, 1991. Dallas was their home and the birthplace of their two beautiful children. Abigail was born in 1994, and Cameron came along in 1996. Gary was diagnosed with cancer in January, 1997, and after a year long battle he died in December surrounded by family and friends. Marlene and the children moved to Seattle in 1998 where she is lovingly raising the children, with support from many grateful babysitters (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and friends). Both Abby and Cameron show a love for the water, with one "backstroke" ribbon already earned. Can water polo be far behind? Maybe more will be heard from the "swimming Haslams". |