information from West Seattle Rotary

West Seattle native, businessman and community leader, Earl Cruzen, has been named the recipient of the 2014 Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. He will be honored at the West Seattle Grand Parade this Saturday, July 19th.

Cruzen was the driving force behind West Seattle’s mural project, depicting the neighborhood’s rich history on 10 murals still visible around Alaska Junction. In 1992 the mural project was named the National Winner of Neighborhood of the Year Project.

The big “Gateway Cleanup” was also the idea of Cruzen and his mural group. The “Walking on Logs” sculptures and "Welcome to West Seattle" sign at the Bridge was part of that cleanup.

Cruzen was born in 1920 and raised in West Seattle’s Highland Park neighborhood. He graduated from West Seattle High School, Class of 1939. He spent much of his business life operating C&C Properties, investing in area real estate. He is married and has one daughter and four grandchildren.

Cruzen is a lifetime member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and served as its president in 1989-1990. He is a member of the South Seattle Community College Foundation and served as its president in 2005-2006. He has served as a volunteer business counselor for SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business". In 2000 he was a Seattle Hearld Citizen of the Century Nominee.

Cruzen is a member of the Fauntleroy Community Church and a member of the West Seattle Rotary Club. He has received Rotary's highest award, "Paul Harris Fellow".

Cruzen and his wife, Adah, live in an Alki beach condominium with a view of the community he loves and has served with distinction during his long life.