Former Whitman State Representative Emmet Hayes was honored by UMass Boston as the recipient of its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award at a ceremony Thursday November 7th at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston.
Hayes was recognized for his decades of service to his community, state and country. A Vietnam Era Navy veteran, Hayes served both as a Whitman selectman and State Representative. He led the fight to create the Massachusetts Revolving Loan fund that has provided $8 billion for cities and towns to finance sewer and clean water projects. Hayes won multiple national and international awards for his work as chair of the Baird & Maguire Superfund Advisory Committee which resolved one of the nation’s most hazardous waste site issues in Holbrook. The entire South Shore area benefitted from his leadership when he successfully fought to restore commuter rail service in the late 1980s.
The past alumnus recipient in 2023 was the former head of the EPA.
“After years of building a clean water coalition, I was thrilled when we passed the law creating the Clean Water Revolving Loan fund,” Hayes said in his address. “That fund has lowered fees for 97 percent of Massachusetts water and sewer rate payers.”
He said the Clean Water fund helped pay for the large egg-shaped digesters one can now see across the bay, as well. But it’s another sight that really shows the program’s success.
“That’s nature’s way of saying that the team that I worked with for many years created a healthier environment for people AND animals,” he said. “I am pleased that some of the people who helped get this done are here tonight. And I’m proud that UMass Boston has recognized the role I played in this effort.”