Hayden Finley, an Agoura Hills resident who was a part of the Malibu community for many years, died last week at age 71.
Born in Texas, Finley moved to Southern California as a young boy. He later received a master’s degree in public administration from USC and a master’s degree in communication from Pepperdine University’s Seaver College, where he taught public speaking courses as an adjunct.
Finley also worked for the Sheriff’s Department and co-authored the book, “Communication: A Unique Significance for Law Enforcement,” with his longtime friend Morris M. Womack, a professor at Pepperdine.
At the end of his law enforcement career, Finley served as a Malibu sheriff’s captain, retiring from the station in the early 1980s. He continued to be active in the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, the Optimists Club, the Greater Malibu Disaster Recovery Project and many other community endeavors. He was also an avid golfer.
Finley is survived by his wife, Heidi, a daughter, two sons and grandchildren. A memorial service took place Sunday in Thousand Oaks, where Professor Womack delivered the eulogy for his friend of 34 years.