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JANUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER REDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 1 16600 NE 80th Street, Room 106
Redmond, WA 98052 ~ Tel 425.885.2919
Our Mission:
To Discover, Recover, Preserve, Share and website ~ www.redmondhistory.org
Celebrate Redmond’s History e-mail ~ redmondhistory@hotmail.com
HOURS: Tuesday through Thursday 1-6 p.m.,
HISTORY IS HAPPENING IN REDMOND! Friday, 4-6 p.m. and by appointment

P resident’s Corner
It is with great pleasure I pass the gavel
R emembering Larry

to our new president, Tom Hitzroth.

Tom is not a newcomer to the Redmond
Historical Society or the preservation of
history. He has served on our board since
2002, and leads walking tours through old
downtown. Tom is currently serving on the
City of Redmond Landmarks and Heritage
Commission, and the Kirkland Heritage
Society. He is also researching the murder
of James Colman in 1890.
Tom’s involvement in Eastside history
began in 1992 as president of Marymoor
Museum. Later he served on the board at
Photo courtesy of Fisher Radio
Issaquah Historical Society. Some of his
past historical research includes the Tosh “Seattle radio legend” is how Larry Nelson was remembered,
homestead, Redmond Meat Market, and the and rightly so, when local news media on November 29
murder of Letitia Whitehall. reported he had lost a battle to lung cancer. But Larry was also
We are fortunate for all the folks like Tom a hometown kid, and even parlayed his Redmond roots into his
who are interested and willing to spend radio shows.
their time keeping our history alive. Thank Join us on January 12th as we
you Tom! celebrate his contributions with NEXT
I would like to say that I’m taking a seat in stories about his antics. Larry RHS
the audience, but that’s not the case. I plan also narrated Redmond MEETING:
to continue to help out with the meetings heritage videos produced SAT., JANUARY 12 ~ 10:30 TO NOON
at the
when needed and still make that somewhat by Brad Solomon for the
Redmond Public Library
tasty coffee, unless someone else wants to. Society, and we’ll view a few 15990 NE 85th, Redmond

Any takers? of those as well. Special Guest:

Incoming MAYOR
It has been four years of fun and special Larry was a guest speaker
John Marchione
(Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 3)

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008 1 History is Happening in Redmond!

 President’s Corner
(Continued from page 1)
NEXT
2008 RHS thanks to the board members and all the other volunteers, including our

GENERAL MEETING speakers, who helped make it fun, and to all of you for your support, stories,
ideas and great attendance at our meetings. WOW! I have made some
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH
10:30 to Noon wonderful new acquaintances, too. It has been GREAT!
Join me Saturday, January 12th at 10:30 a.m. at the Redmond Library for
at the
REDMOND PUBLIC our first meeting of 2008 and make sure you welcome Tom as well as our
LIBRARY new vice-president, former Mayor Chris Himes. l

................................................... ~ RHS President, Judy Aries Lang

T
2008 Executive Board
Tom Hitzroth President
Chris Himes Vice-President
Miguel Llanos Vice-President hose Fabulous (Male) Fillies
Joanne Westlund Treasurer
Margaret Wiese Corresponding
Secretary
Beryl Standley
Recording Secretary

Board of Directors
Terri Gordon Nao Hardy
Judy Lang Jon Magnusson
Amo Marr Doris Schaible
Patti Simpson Ward

Office Manager
Beryl Standley

Attorney
Charles Diesen
...................................................
Fabulous Fillies
Our finances are public record
and may be viewed at the office. Tom Hansen has this to add about the Fabulous Fillies dancers cited
...................................................
in the last newsletter:
FREE Newsletter “The kiss mentioned came from my dad, Wayne Hansen, who was
If you don't already subscribe,
please sign up. Call the office at 6’5”. Dressed as a dancing girl, he went over and sat on his father’s lap
425.885.2919 or e-mail and kissed him out of affection to the embarrassment of Grampa and
mew@nwlink.com. State your
preference of e-mail or U.S. Mail Gramma, who came from Seattle to see the circus and their son perform.
(e-mail is cheaper for the city and The kiss was not planned and poor Robert Hansen got attention he never
the photos look better on-line).
expected. He was conservative but just went along with it realizing it was
The Redmond Recorder all in fun. My Mother, Lucille Hansen, made dad’s dress and did sewing for
Published nine times annually
Miguel Llanos Editor other circus acts over the years.”
Patti Simpson Ward Tom also donated photos of the dancers, including this one. We
Newsletter Graphic Designer
have some names, but not all. Left to right: perhaps Dick Patterson,
Major Sponsors unidentified, unidentified, perhaps Charles Hamby, unidentified, Wayne
Thompson, unidentified, Wayne Hansen, unidentified, Theo Caldwell,
unidentified.
If you can identify anyone, please call Tom at 206.632.2731 or e-mail us
at redmondhistory@hotmail.com.

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008 2 History is Happening in Redmond!

 Remembering Door Prizes
Larry Russ Goetschius will kick
(Continued from page 1) off our door prize experiment

During his Society presentation in

on Jan 12th by giving away a
2004, Larry Nelson, right, placed salmon-shaped plate he made.
the blame for his youthful antics on
childhood friend Fred Porter, left. Fred Have you got something to
also passed away in 2007.
donate as a door prize? If
in November 2004. For that presentation, he gave us this biography, written in a so, contact Russ during the
combination first person and third person, which reflects his humor and experience: meeting. l
“Larry Nelson was born in Redmond, Washington, on Oct. 16, 1937 . . . that was
back when Baskin and Robbins only had one flavor. Headlines Online
“Attended Redmond Elementary and Lake Washington High School, graduating Beth Rau saw last issue’s
in 1955. Then attended the University of Everett for three years. While never “mystery” photo of Mike’s
achieving a degree, he founded the great popular singing group the “Shades” and Kitchen being demolished and
went on to record for Aladdin Records in Hollywood, California. reminded us that the King
“Probably the most memorable achievement the Shades accomplished was County Library System has
having KRKO in 1960 proclaim their recording ‘One Touch in Heaven’ as the a great searchable database
absolute worst record of the year. of Sammamish Valley News
“However all is not lost as Nelson at the time was working for the King County headlines and subject
Sheriff’s Department, where he met Ron Holden, who was singing with a band keywords for all front page
called the “Playboys.” While Nelson was fingerprinting him, he asked Holden, ‘Do stories from 1963-94. Beth
you have any original material?’ Holden said yes. So, upon Holden’s graduation found out that Mike’s Kitchen
from jail seven months later, Nelson formed the Night Owl records label. came down in May 1978. Check
“For a grand investment of $240 the single ‘Love You So’ by the ‘Thunderbirds’ it out at www.kcls.org/forms/
was released . . . Long story short: by June 1960 ‘Love You So’ was the #1 record in samnews. l
America. Six months later #1 in Europe. In total, 1,427,000 copies sold. Paid cash for
my first house . . . my pop thought I stole the money! C. Barker Donations
“Nelson began his broadcasting career in 1964 at KFKF in Bellevue. Worked for
The Society thanks Patsy
Kemper Freeman, Jr., for two years and went to KOMO in 1966 until 1998. Some of
Rosenbach as well as Arlyn and
the highlights of my 32 years at KOMO:
Len Vallene for the donations
• “Receiving the Edward R. Murrow reward for my one week coverage of
made in memory of Clarence
the Geneva Peace talks with Gorbachev and Reagan;
Barker. Arlyn included this
• “Broadcasting live from Germany as we chipped away at the Berlin Wall
note: “Clarence drove my
during Christmas 1989;
school bus and every day he
• “A year later we broadcast from Moscow as the Soviet Union was no more
would say ‘goodbye sweetie’ or
and we were able to see why.
some sweet name.” l
“I had the privilege of taking the KOMO Good Morning show all over the globe:
America’s Cup in Australia; Live from the Eiffel tower in Paris; Summer Olympics in
South Korea; Winter Olympics in Calvary . . . last but not least the Redmond Bicycle
Hip State History
Derby. The Washington State
“The award I’m most proud of is my coveted ‘Crystal Soundie Award’ in 1996 for History Museum’s web site
‘Lifetime Achievement in Radio.’ Crystal Soundie is radio’s Academy Awards.” l WashingtonHistoryOnline.org
was built for teaching, but is
Got stories and/or photos of Larry and his Redmond roots? If so, bring them open to all and has plenty of
January 12 or let us know by phoning 425.885.2919 or redmondhistory@ rich history via archives, text
hotmail.com. And check out this online tribute: www.larrybnelson.com. and even games! l
The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008 3 History is Happening in Redmond!
T

he Kangaroo Konundrum
When Bill Kruller got to wondering how in heck Lake Washington adopted
A Heap of
Historical
Thanks
for These
kangaroos as a mascot, a trail of e-mail began that led to two variations of a
Donations
“Kirkland Kangaroo” heritage. In one variation, Dale Potter contacted Jock
McLauglin, who taught at LWHS for many years and whose father was Bill Patti Simpson Ward for
McLaughlin, the famed football coach of years past. According to Jock: donating a copy of the book
“Legend of Eddie Bauer.”
“In 1935, a cheerleader named Ronny Clemens developed a cheer for the
then Kirkland High School Hornets that the administration considered a bit lewd.
Sylvia Murillo for
Something about a stinger and how it was applied … Unable to suppress the
donating a 1985 Sammamish
“lewd” cheer, the administration told the school they needed to choose a new Valley News; a 1977 Journal
mascot and left it up to the student body to choose the mascot. American article about
“Ronny decided that if they chose a ridiculous enough mascot, the Ralph Dodd; and a 1957
administration would have to relent and let them keep the Hornet and Redmond Jr. High yearbook.
consequently his pet cheer and its accompanying gyrations. So during an
assembly when suggestions were solicited some idiot (rumor has it it was Karen Ball for donating
family mementos: 1947-
some bozo from the notoriously stupid Gatter clan) in the back row shouted
51 Lake Washington High
‘Kangaroos, Kirkland Kangaroos!’ Ronny decided that was perfect; the
yearbooks and graduation
administration would have to reject it. The student body was in agreement and
invitation; 1944 Washington
the Kangaroo was submitted to the administration.
Mutual savings book.
“The administration said, ‘Fine, if that’s what you want, that’s what you get.’
“So, in 1949, when Kirkland High School and Redmond High School became Joyce Fowler for
Lake Washington High School they became the Kangaroos. Ronny’s dead, but his donating the book
legacy lives on ~ dubiously.” “Willowmoor.”
In the second variation, Vern McCorkle says his late cousin Jane Kidder, who G
was the home economics teacher after Kirkland High became LWHS, told him this: Arlyn Vallene for
donating two children’s
“It was called Lake Washington because the Redmond parents weren't too
books that belonged to her
keen on their kids going to a "Kirkland" school. Jane told me that she remembers
brother Gordon Bjerke.
that there was a meeting (she thought it might have been a pep rally) to select
a mascot for the football and track teams, and that at a meeting of students and
Got Donations?
teachers, a girl carried a stuffed animal,
as girls often did in those times, and Our Society office needs:
the yell king snatched up the stuffed toy • Newer digital camera

(a kangaroo wearing a purple and white • Digital audio recorder

cape) and held it over his head and • Transcriber for digital

yelled “The Kirkland Kangaroos!" l recorder

• Flat screen TV

Can you add to this kangaroo trail? If you can donate an item (or
And how did other local mascots get finance its purchase), please
their names? We’d love to know, so contact Miguel Llanos at
please e-mail us at miguel.llanos@msnbc.com or
redmondhistory@hotmail.com. 425.802.3806. Donations are
tax-deductible.

The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008

4 History is Happening in Redmond!
W
Adams, Ray
ere You at Our November 10, 2007 Meeting?
These folks were! First time attendees are noted in BOLD TYPE!

Hanson, Marge Martin, Bob Stray, Arne

Adams, Ruth Hanson, Roy Martin, Daryl Stray, Sunday
Adsit, Bettie Hardy, Jerry Miller, Larry Swisher, Kristine
Bruneau, Bernie Hardy, Naomi Montgomery, Mary Swisher, Mary
Bruneau, Pierre Himes, Chris Muñoz, Alexa Swisher, Sarah
Campbell, Sally Holte, Peter Neal, Marion Tollfeldt, Anne
Davies, John Ingersoll, Jo Ann Olson, LeRoy Tollfeldt, Harvey
Emmanuel, Tony Ingersoll, Tracy Radtke, Bev Torell, Jerry
Erickson, Bill Jaton, Wayne Radtke, Dick Vallene, Arlyn
Erickson, Sharon Kuhl, Betty Rhinehart, Jutta Weiss, Rose
Garland, Lillian Kuhl, Howard Rosenbach, Patsy Westlund, Joanne
Goetschius, Millie Lang, Judy Saunders, Dee Wiese, Margaret
Goetschius, Russ Llanos, Miguel Schaible, Doris Williams, Audrey
Hall, Suzanne Lyons, George Standley, Beryl Williams, Larry
Hall, Tom Lyons, Jackie Stensland, Don Williams, Lois
Hammersberg, Clara Magnuson, Cheryl Stone, Clarence Yoder, Bob
Hammersberg, Jerry Magnuson, Gene
Hansen, Tom Magruder, Joan

O rder
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The Redmond Recorder ~ January 2008 5 History is Happening in Redmond!

F rom Derby Days
to the Mayor’s Office
Can you spot John Marchione, our incoming
mayor?
The photo was taken at Derby Days in 1984 in front
of Anderson Park. John’s front and nearly center, and
his future wife, Debbie Griffin, is at left. Brother David is
behind him.
In back, left to right are: Michael Marchione, Kerry
McKorkle (Rose Hill resident), Paul Marchione and Jim
Drinkwine (Avondale resident).
John will join us on January 12th to kick around ideas
to rejuvenate Derby Days and to celebrate Redmond's
100th birthday in 2012. l

J oin the Redmond Historical Society

AND HELP DISCOVER, RECOVER, PRESERVE AND
SHARE REDMOND’S HISTORY!

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