Mystic ― Richard “Skip” Hayward, the man credited with the resurrection of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in the 1970s and its subsequent development of Foxwoods Resort Casino, will be honored for his impact on eastern Connecticut tourism at a Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce event next month.

Rarely seen in public in recent years, Hayward, who turns 77 on Thanksgiving Day, will attend the chamber’s annual Party of 12 and Community & Tourism Awards on Dec. 12 at the Velvet Mill in Stonington, a Mashantucket spokeswoman confirmed this week.

During the event, Hayward will receive the inaugural Joyce Olson Resnikoff Tourism Legacy Award, named for the co-founder of the Olde Mistick Village shopping center. The chamber said Hayward is being recognized for his “vision and determination,” which led the Mashantucket Pequots to rebuild their nation and establish successful enterprises like Mashantucket High Stakes Bingo, Foxwoods, the Pequot Pharmaceutical Network, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and the Lake of Isles golf course.

“Skip deserves the first legacy award in my mother’s name in honor of what he achieved for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and also for eastern Connecticut tourism,” Chris Regan, Resnikoff’’s son, said. “His vision reshaped the appeal of Mystic Coast & Country as a destination for millions of visitors to our region.”

Mystic Coast & Country encompasses southeastern Connecticut.

Hayward served as the Mashantuckets’ chairman from 1975 to 1998 and then as vice chairman until his retirement from tribal government in 2004. He and his wife, Carol, live on the tribe’s reservation, where he is a member of the tribe’s elders’ council.

In 2016, Hayward was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame as an “Industry Pioneer,” considered one of the gaming industry’s highest honors. The following year, he became the first recipient of the Mashantuckets’ Lifetime Achievement Award, appearing at a gala at Foxwoods attended by then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and other dignitaries.

On Dec. 12, the chamber also will present Joyce Olson Resnikoff Tourism Awards to Bethany Perkins and Eric Myer, owners of the Bees Knees and Ice Imports shops, respectively, at Olde Mistick Village, as well as restaurateur Bill Middleton of Cannonball Management, who will receive the Keel Award, given annually to a business leader who represents the future of Mystic.

Past Keel Award recipients include Amanda Arling, president of The Whaler’s Inn; Jason Guyot, Foxwoods’ president and chief executive officer; and David Lattizori, developer of Harbor Heights apartments.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com