Once a year hundreds of West Seattle supporters of our community college in Riverview, gather just south of Pigeon Point and just north of the Dumar district where Earl Cruzen was born in 1920. His house still stands. It is close to that of another famous resident, Richard Hugo, world - wide revered poet.

Earl, father of the collection of historic paintings which grace the Alaska Junction and his wife Ada are noted backers of our college and often invite us to join them at the annual banquet, It is called Gifts from the Earth. Food Service of America, located on Delridge Way for many years has moved its headquarters to Nevada but still remains the major sponsor.

Besides the chance to rub elbows with proud supporters of this renowned institution we always look forward to seeing another home grown notable, Jill Wakefield. Elsbeth and I got our annual hug. This brilliant and engaging charmer who rose from the ranks of the public relations department used to trot over to the Herald office to drop off news releases. She served as President for only a short six years succeeding Jerry Brockey and then was chosen to head all of Seattle's community colleges as Chancellor. Interim President is Gary Oertli.

This not an old fashioned dinner with heaping platters of steaks and baked or potatoes and heaping bowls of salads. This is true gourmet food prepared by famous local chefs from noted local restaurants. The bottom above (below Earl Cruzen) is called Crudo and it is Italian style sashimi (raw ahi tuna) with Italian parsley, cracked pepper and cheese and lemon.

We were seated at a table with former editor of the Herald Jeanne Sweeney and her sweetheart husband, former White Center News
shop super. Pat is a good eater and gladly helped me with my Roasted Ranch Lamb loin, brussel sprouts and Nueske's bacon.
I had to save room for the brown butter pound cake and fresh date ice cream.

We also shared the feast with famous Jack Block who has a whole waterfront park named after him. He is another notable college booster who grew up near Earl in Highland Park. He is married to the former Vickie Schmidt, lives next to the ferry dock and whose grand dad provided us with the great park in the Alki district.

The other couple we shared the table with, own Southwest Plumbing company headquartered on Delridge Way. They are Connie and Bill Buckingham who first opened for business in White Center about thirty years ago. Bill was our college's first janitor who got tired of scrubbing the floors.
I used his company last fall to come out and fix a plugged line. He has some sharp employee who ended up selling us a new hot water heater, a new kitchen sink and a shower stall.

A bit about Earl the pearl. He used to go to the movie house owned by Walt Coy on White Center's main drag, on 16th SW next to the corner which became Thrifty drug store. He was not very big so he had to be a fast runner to keep the toughs from pounding him. He paid a dime to get in the show but went early to avoid the hoodlums who hung out at night.
A West Seattle High grad he got in a year at the U of W.
He then joined the merchant marines and spent the war hauling freight to the Pacific theatre .

After the war he made his way working for his Dad in an auto parts store in South Seattle. It proved a good decision and after a successful business career he has devoted much of his time to philanthropy boosting his home town.