From the Oregonian – October 24, 1987. Not available elsewhere online.

Completing a round of assignments to provide leadership at the state’s three largest mental health institutions, the Human Resources Department announced Friday that George W. Bachik would become the superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital in Salem.

Bachik, 45, holds a similar job at Idaho State Hospital South, a 232-bed facility in Blackfoot, Idaho. He has worked there since 1979. Previously, he worked 15 years at a state hospital in Colorado.

“He comes to us with glowing references both in terms of personal energy level and professional skills and leadership,” said Kevin Concannon, director of the Human Resources Department.

Oregon State Hospital, with 710 patients, operates on a $6.7 million yearly budget, according to the Mental Health Division, and specializes in geriatrics, child and adolescent treatment, forensics and general psychiatrics.

In Colorado and in Idaho, Bachik worked to move patients into semi-independent group homes rather than keeping them inside the hospital. These experiences might be useful in cutting the number of patients at OSH, Concannon said Friday.

Bachik, who has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and has completed postgraduate work in public administration, was selected from about 30 applicants in a nationwide search. He was interviewed by a screening panel and by Concannon.

Bachik will begin his new position Dec. 7. His salary will be $52,848.

He will replace Robert Benning, who resigned in May. Stanley F. Mazur-Hart, the acting superintendent of OSH, will take over supervision of Dammasch State Hospital in Wilsonville, Concannon said Thursday.

The third major appointment to the state mental institutions announced this week was Wednesday’s selection of Linda K. Gustafson, director of an Illinois hospital, to take over the Fairview Training Center.