Harvey Rowe, President, West Seattle Lions Club learned of entrepreneur Spencer Weglin, 19, through a story the West Seattle Herald did on him last January when he was a West Seattle High School senior, which you can read here. The story's headline, "WSHS studious senior is also entrepreneur, paid for truck before he could drive" caught Rowe's attention because, Rowe said, "I think it's great when kids of his age plan a future for themselves and decide they're going to stick with it."

Rowe invited Weglin, a North Admiral resident, to speak at a recent Lions Club luncheon. They meet Thursday's at the Senior Center of West Seattle. "He was one of the best speakers we ever had," said Rowe.

Weglin calls his business "Spencer For Hire", a take-off of the 1980's TV drama "Spenser: For Hire". He mows lawns, and is up to 36 regular customers, walks dogs, baby sits, house sits, and builds sturdy wooden benches by hand he sells for $225, including staining if the customer provides the stain, or paint. He does have college plans, but is taking the year off to work, and volunteer in Seattle with Habitat for Humanity.

"I was taught if you want something you work for it and you can get anything that way," Weglin told the dozen or so members and guests at the luncheon. He showed off one of his benches. A guest, seated in it, commented that it was comfortable even though it was wooden.

"I still hang out at the wood shop and help other kids at West Seattle High," he said. "It's quite the shop. You can build anything up there. They even have a high-end Italian planer."

Weglin said he liked to build things, and that he once wanted to be an architect but decided he did not like sitting at a desk for long stretches. Lions Club member Robert Hester, former South Seattle Community College professor, and Executive Vice President from 1980 to 1995, told him it was useful that he learned that about himself already so that he could avoid wasting time pursuing the wrong career while staying on track, working toward a career he really wants to pursue.

Weglin was asked if he has any spare time with all that he does. And, if so, what he enjoys doing.

"I like to hang out with friends," he said. "I have Adirondack chairs I made that are on my back patio. If I ever have some spare time I will relax on those."

If you are interested in hiring Spencer Weglin, or purchasing one of his benches, you can email him at sweglin@gmail.com.