Ruth Sampson Ayers (1898-1991)

If you work hard enough, you can achieve whatever it is you wish. I always thought Spokane could be anything it wanted to be.

Ruth Sampson Ayers (1898-1991) - Ruth Sampson Ayers, musician and business owner, was a lifelong Spokane resident whose parents came from Sweden in the 1880s. Ms. Ayers graduated from North Central High School in 1918. As a high school senior, she had already directed the choir at Fourth Presbyterian Church. She began working for Pacific Music Company when she was a teenager and opened the sheet music department there. In 1929, she opened the Ruth Sampson Sheet Music Company and changed the name when she married Stephen Ayers in 1945. The Sampson-Ayers House of Music had a piano and organ department, music practice rooms, and a recital hall in addition to selling sheet music. She sang as a soloist and directed many Spokane choirs throughout her life. Ms. Ayers helped organize the Spokane Philharmonic Orchestra and served as a board member for many groups that brought music to Spokane. She volunteered with school orchestras and organized the Spokane Music Festival for young artists. In 1979, she sold her business after her husband’s death but remained an active member of many civic organizations until her death in 1991.

Dr. George Bagby, 1923-2017

Dr. George Bagby was an orthopedic surgeon, inventor and philanthropist who practiced medicine until he was 83 years old. While studying at the Mayo Clinic, he invented the “Bagby Bone Plate,” a self-compressing bone plate which helped facilitate the healing of fractures. He established his private practice in Spokane in 1956. In the 1970s, Bagby developed a relationship with the WSU veterinary program where he helped develop a procedure to fuse vertebrae in horses. The successful surgeries on horses led to the development of the Bagby and Kuslich (BAK) implant, which is now commonly used in human patients. In the horse world, Bagby is known for operating on triple-crown winner, Seattle Slew, in 2000. Bagby also volunteered with Orthopaedics Overseas, which sent him to Bangladesh where he eventually built a hospital. In 1990, he was named Spokane Physician of the year and in 2003 Rotary International awarded Bagby its Humanitarian Service Award. He was well-known at Shriner’s Hospital for Children where he arranged fishing trips for hospitalized children.

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, 1882-1978

Sonora Smart Dodd, a Spokane mother, artist, and poet came up with the idea of Father’s Day after listening to a sermon about Mother’s Day and the virtues of motherhood. Sonora was sixteen when her mother died. He father William Jackson Smart dedicated himself to raising Sonora and her five younger brothers. After deciding that a day was needed to honor fathers, Sonora went to the Spokane Ministerial Alliance and the YMCA and they endorsed her proposition, proclaiming June 19, 1910 as the first Father’s Day. Preachers around Spokane delivered Father’s Day sermons and wire service stories picked it up. Other cities quickly began celebrating Father’s Day and by 1925, the entire country was paying tribute to fatherhood. In 1966, President Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day and in 1970, the U. S. Congress passed a joint resolution making it a national holiday which was signed by Richard Nixon.

Akhoy Kumar Mozumdar, 1864-1953

Akhoy Kumar (A.K.) Mozumdar, a spiritual leader, was born in a small village about twenty miles north of Calcutta, India. Before coming to the United States, Mozumdar studied throughout India, as well as China and Japan. Mozumdar was a dynamic teacher, lecturer, and writer of the New Thought Movement in the United States. Mozumdar settled in Spokane in 1907. He formed the downtown Christian Yoga Church in Spokane and was the first Hindu to attain U.S. Citizenship. The law at the time offered citizenship only to “free born whites,” though there was no clear legal definition of the term. In 1912, Mozumdar applied for naturalization, ready to challenge the meaning of “whiteness.” He argued before a judge that he should be considered white as a rule caste of India and Spokane judge Frank H. Rudkin ruled for Mozumdar in May of 1913. Mozumdar wrote his most influential book, The Life and the Way in 1911 while living in Spokane.

Myrtle Woldson, 1910-2014

Myrtle Woldson, Spokane businesswoman and philanthropist, was born in Spokane to Martin and Edwidge Woldson. Her father made a fortune working for the railroads and investing in mining operations. Before he died in 1958 he taught his daughter about investing which lead her to estate investments in Spokane and Seattle, developing her own fortune. She gave money to the Moore-Turner Garden, and in 2010, the Spokane Park Board voted to rename Pioneer Park after Woldson’s mother in recognition. Additionally, she gave $3 million dollars to the Fox Theater in honor of her father and left money to Catholic Charities to expand care to Spokane’s homeless population. Miss Woldson developed a relationship with Gonzaga and after she died in 2014 at the age of 104, she left $55 million to Gonzaga, to build a performing arts center and to establish an endowment to provide scholarships which opens in 2019. Her gift to Gonzaga was the largest in Gonzaga’s history and the largest private gift in Washington State University.

Ken Spiering

Ken Spiering, artist, was born in Wyoming and earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Gonzaga University and a MFA from the University of Idaho. His emphasis has always been to master the design, drawing, and painting of highly credible, yet contemporary images from those richest moments in nature. In fifty years of making art, Spiering has come to specialize in creating artwork for public spaces and private commissions, often in significant scale. His most well-known work in Spokane is Childhood Express, his red wagon at Riverfront Park. He has also taught art at every level in the Spokane region. Spiering has chosen to use his skills to broaden the creative community in Spokane while he has created lasting icons of the Spokane cityscape.

Tom Simpson

Tom Simpson has over 30 years of experience as an investment banker, venture capitalist, angel investor and entrepreneur. Simpson grew up in Spokane and earned a BA from the University of Washington and a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School. He is co-founder and former Chairman of eTailz. He is currently President of the Spokane Angel Alliance and serves on the board of directors for Berg Manufacturing, GenPrime, Safeguard Equipment, Sportscope and Telect. He is co-founder of the Toolbox, an incubator for start-ups focused on developing physical products, co-owner of the Plechner Building which houses Start-Up Spokane, co-creator of the Triangle Venture Expo, an annual showcase of emerging companies in the region, and author of a monthly column in The Inlander focused on economic development and entrepreneurship.

Father Bernard Coughlin, S.J.

Father Bernard J. Coughlin, S.J. arrived in Spokane in 1974 to lead Gonzaga University. Accomplishments in his 22 years as President (and subsequent 18 years as Chancellor) extend far beyond the University as he helped to expand not only Gonzaga’s impact but Spokane’s influence as well. A methodical approach to sound business management and a relentless commitment to educational excellence not only resolved the University’s fiscal challenges, but it put Gonzaga on a path of academic excellence and enrollment growth. Father Coughlin’s leadership has benefited the entire community in many ways. In 1988, Father Coughlin became the first Jesuit priest to serve as chair of a regional Chamber of Commerce. His reach extends today beyond the university to the betterment of Spokane as a whole.

Ted S. McGregor, Jr.

Ted S. McGregor, Jr. publisher of the Pacific Northwest Inlander, grew up in Spokane and graduated from Gonzaga Prep in 1983 and the University of Washington in 1987. While earning his Master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, his final professional project was a business plan to start a weekly paper in his hometown. Since its founding in 1993, The Inlander has become the best-read weekly in America, according to independent research, and earns multiple journalism awards every year. Additionally, McGregor and the Inlander have identified cultural gaps and created essential community events to fill them, launching Spokane’s only multi-venue music festival (Volume) and the region’s annual restaurant week. In recent years, McGregor has served as chairman of the Riverfront Park Master Plan Advisory Committee. More recently, as the Riverfront Park Committee chairman on the Spokane Park Board, he’s been part of the team that is directing the $70-plus million public investment into Riverfront Park.

Lois J. Stratton

Lois Stratton, former Washington State Representative and Senator, was born on the Spokane Indian Reservation. After graduating from high school and then the Kinman Business University, Lois worked full-time at Kaiser Aluminum while raising five children with her husband Allen. In 1979, Lois was appointed to the Washington State House of Representatives and after three successful campaigns to keep her House seat, she was elected to State Senate in 1985, serving until her retirement in 1993. She supported programs that empowered women, children and families, serving on the Governor’s Commission on Children and many other boards and commissions. Stratton worked with the Department of Social and Health Services to tackle drug and alcohol issues in the community. She was well known for her willingness to cross party lines to vote for issues important to Eastern Washington.

Deb Harper

Deb Harper, pediatrician, lived all over the west as a child. After moving to Chicago, she attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for college and the University of Illinois in Chicago for medical school. She did a pediatric residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She chose pediatrics because she wanted to help prevent lifestyle diseases and also help families nurture their children. She has done some international work, both for education and also some medical missions. She moved to Spokane in the spring of 1985. Harper practiced pediatrics at Group Health in Spokane until her retirement in April, 2018, and has been a consultant physician on child neglect and abuse prevention programs. She has been president of the Spokane County Medical Society, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington State Medical Association. Harper has taught medical students in Spokane since 1985, and has directed the pediatrics clerkship for third-year UW medical students in Spokane.

Katherine Tuttle

Katherine R. Tuttle, MD, FASN, FACP, FNKF, is the Executive Director for Research at Providence Health Care and the regional Principal Investigator for the Institute of Translational Health Sciences, established Investigator at the Kidney Research Institute, and clinical Professor of Medicine in the Nephrology Division at the University of Washington. Dr. Tuttle has been a Chair for numerous major initiatives and program. She has received numerous honors and awards such as the Garabed Eknoyan Award from the National Kidney Foundation (2017), the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award in Science (2009), and two Outstanding Clinical Faculty Awards at the University of Washington (1992, 2012). Dr. Tuttle serves on the Board of Directors for the Kidney Health Initiative and was Associate Editor for the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology from 2011-2016. Her major research interests are in clinical and translational science, diabetic kidney disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and community engagement.

Dave and Mari Clack

Dave and Mari Clack understand and exemplify the value of people working together. As co-leaders and co-founders, they are quick to acknowledge, praise, and express gratitude for the efforts of others.

The Clacks share an unwavering dedication to higher education and the significant benefits generated by growing a talented workforce through their commitment to University of Washington, particularly the School of Medicine and its Eastern Washington programs, but also to every higher education institution in the region.

They have spearheaded profound and positive substantive change. Dave has been a co-leader with Momentum ‘87, an economic development initiative that launched the strongest regional growth since Spokane’s 1974 World’s Fair as well as a visionary of the University District.

Mari is the co-founder of the Women Helping Women Fund, a trailblazing philanthropic organization to empower women while supporting women and children in need in our community. She has also brought strength and direction for Spokane Parks & Recreation, Spokane Public Radio, and dozens of other organizations and causes.

Together, the Clacks have made Spokane and the Inland Northwest a better place to live for everyone. Whether working quietly behind the scenes or boldly out front, they have demonstrated the impact of leadership and dedication, and the power to change our understanding of our community and our vision for the future.

Rich Hadley

“Over his twenty-year tenure with the Chamber of Commerce and Greater Spokane Incorporated, Rich Hadley has been an incredible change agent for this community. His vision, leadership, collaboration and ability to create consensus have brought significant economic growth and quality of life improvements to Spokane and the region.”—Jeff Philipps, President, CEO of Rosauers

Rich Hadley is President Emeritus of Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), Spokane's chamber of commerce and economic development council. Hadley took the position in 1993 and served as president for 21 years before retiring in 2014. Some of his major roles include working on behalf of Spokane to improve the economic progress of our community and establish relationships with leading businessmen and federal and state lobbyists.

Hadley held chairman positions for the Chamber Executive Associations in Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington, the Institute of Organizational Management, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and co-chair of Washington Military Alliance.

One of Hadley’s many accomplishments was taking a leadership position in the creation of the WSU Spokane medical campus. His group convinced Washington state legislators to approve a $35 million budget to start the construction of the medical building on campus.

Another notable initiative was Hadley’s idea to have trips to Washington D.C. for local business people, educators and other outstanding community members to represent the Northwest on various subjects.

Being a Naval air intelligence officer in the Vietnam War, Hadley was also a major advocate for Fairchild Air Force Base in solidifying its future in Spokane.

Hadley graduated from Iowa State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Public Administration and International Affairs. He and Rita, his wife of 46 years, have two children and continue to be involved in the Spokane community today. His accomplishments in the development of the Spokane region show his devotion to our area and he will act as a model for future business leaders throughout the years to come.

Aubrey Lee White, 1869-1948

“My definition of happiness is having a job to do, enjoying doing it, and then getting it done.”

Aubrey White, the “father of Spokane parks” served as president of the Spokane Board of Park Commissioners for twenty years. He arrived in Spokane from his native Maine in 1889 at the age of 20. White spent his early career selling mining stocks and railroad bonds in Eastern cities. He was able to see that many cities had not left enough land for parks and when he returned to Spokane, he was determined that Spokane not make the same mistakes. His first project was to create Manito Park. Unable to convince the city government to add the donated acres of parkland, he focused on private sector assistance. In 1907, a public vote established a nonpartisan volunteer board of park commissioners and an annual park levy. White became the first president of the park board and hired the Olmstead Brothers firm to develop a park plan. While White was involved with many business activities, including real estate, banking, railroads and mining, he always found time for civic affairs. During the 1920s, White’s business fortunes began to decline and he spent the last 26 years of his career as garden editor for the Spokesman Review, a position created for him by his friend, William H. Cowles. Backed by the newspaper, he set about saving the Spokane River and as a result of his crusade, managed to make 80% of the river banks parkland. The Aubrey White Parkway was named for him for these efforts. He worked for the paper until shortly before his death in 1948.

James Chase, 1914 – 1987

“I always believed in group participation and it followed me all through my life. I’ve always wanted to be of service to my community – to turn the tide and make changes.” James Chase

Eleanor Chase 1918 – 2002

“In some cities I would have experienced prejudice, but Spokane is just about the finest city there is.” Eleanor Chase

James E. Chase, Spokane mayor and civic leader, grew up in a poor family in segregated Texas. He attended high school at an all-black high school in Ballinger, Texas but his schooling ended when the school closed at the height of the Great Depression. He never received a high school diploma.

With two friends, he hopped on a freight train in 1934 and settled in Spokane. His first job in Spokane was as a porter and shoe-shiner at a hotel, the only job available for a black man. With another hotel porter, Chase helped form the Negro Active League, a social networking organization, to advance the cause of better opportunities for African Americans. In 1939, he and a friend started an auto repair business, which remained in business until 1981 when Chase ran for mayor. In 1942, he married Eleanor Barrow, a descendant of black pioneers in Spokane.

James later said that Eleanor was "the person who influenced my life the most" and that "all of my goals, desires and accomplishments are geared with her happiness in mind.” Eleanor stayed at home until their son was 11 and then worked for sixteen years as a social worker and then for nine years as an adoption and juvenile court officer. Eleanor was a classically trained singer and was a soloist at Westminster Congregational Church for thirty years.

In 1950, James was elected president of the Spokane Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He served as president for 17 of the next 19 years, with a two-year hiatus as vice-president.

He first ran for city council in 1969 and was defeated. He ran again in 1975 and became Spokane’s first black city council member. Chase ran for mayor in 1981 and won by a landslide. During his term in office, Chase was known for pulling people together to effect change.

Eleanor attended every city council meeting during all of James’ years in office and they were considered a strong team. Eleanor also served as a trustee for Whitworth and Eastern Universities along with many other civic boards. Due to health problems, James did not seek re-election in 1985 and died in 1987. Eleanor died in 2002.

Dr. Elson S. Floyd

“An investment in higher education is an investment in the future of Washington. Our state will be stronger as a consequence.”

Elson S. Floyd was named Washington State University’s 10th president on December 13, 2006. He took office on May 21, 2007 and died on June 20, 2015, of complications from colon cancer.

Floyd transformed WSU into a top-tier research university while navigating some of the worst fiscal challenges in the institution’s history. Under his leadership:

• Overall student enrollment grew to record highs, reaching 28,686 in fall 2014. The number of students of color nearly doubled.
• Annual research expenditures grew by 57.5 percent from approximately $213.2 million in 2007 to more than $335.9 million in 2015, placing WSU in the top 11 percent of public universities for research funding.
• All of WSU’s health sciences programs were consolidated on its Spokane campus, including the colleges of nursing and pharmacy, and the new College of Medical Sciences.
• WSU won bipartisan support in the Washington state legislature to create its own, separately accredited medical school at WSU Health Sciences Spokane.
• WSU completed 30 major construction projects from 2007–2015, including one of the world’s most technologically advanced wine science centers at WSU Tri- Cities.
• The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health opened with anchor gifts from Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• The University successfully completed the $1 billion fundraising Campaign for Washington State University: Because the World Needs Big Ideas.

Affectionately known as “E Flo,” President Floyd was a favorite among WSU students.

He always went out of his way to greet and visit with the students he encountered and knew many of them by name. He once told a student reporter that as a college student he often felt invisible and didn’t want any WSU student to feel that way.

He and his wife, Carmento, attended many student-centered activities, including WSU sports events where they were known to cheer from the student section.

Thousands of students followed a Twitter account Dr. Floyd started as a way to better connect with them. He gave many students his personal cell phone number and encouraged them to contact him if they needed anything.

President Floyd was deeply committed to WSU’s land-grant mission. He was a visionary with enormous understanding of the modern land-grant university and the manner in which it should serve the public.

He pursued educational programs and research efforts that aligned the resources of WSU with the needs of Washington State and its people.

A champion of broadening access to higher education, President Floyd expanded WSU’s campuses in Spokane, Tri Cities, and Vancouver, and established the Global Campus and WSU North Puget Sound at Everett.

Photo by Young Kwak.
Courtesy of The Inlander

Donald F. Kardong

“The birth of Bloomsday was largely accidental, but is growth has been no accident. It has grown because people have been willing to commit energy, resources and vision.”

Don Kardong grew up in the Seattle area, graduated from Stanford University in 1971, received a second bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate from the University of Washington in 1974, and moved to Spokane that year to take a job as an elementary school teacher.

In 1976, Don finished fourth in the Olympic marathon in Montreal, and the next spring (1977) he founded the Lilac Bloomsday Run (Bloomsday). In 1977 he left teaching to open a retail sporting goods store in downtown Spokane (1977-1986), and after selling the business in 1986 he pursued a career as a writer, primarily for Runner's World magazine, for the next 16 years. From 2002-2004 he served as executive director of the Children’s Museum of Spokane. In August of 2004, after many years as a member of Bloomsday’s Board of Directors, he took over as Race Director.

He is married (wife Bridgid), and has two grown daughters.

Daniel K. Oliver

Mainstream history has largely forgotten his accomplishments, but Oliver was integral to the development of Spokane as we know it today.

Daniel K. Oliver was a thirty-three year old Civil War veteran from Pennsylvania who arrived in 1878 to what would later become the City of Spokane. A skilled carpenter, he was also an entrepreneur who invested in a wood mill and became a manager in a planning company. He later branched out into mining and real estate. In 1896, Oliver was elected to serve a two-year term on the city council in Ward 2 (currently lower South Hill).

Oliver was also an entrepreneur with investments in the timber industry, mining and real estate; all crucial industries in Spokane's early history.

In 1892, he built Oliver Hall, a two-story brick building with a society hall on the second floor. He was involved in numerous civic organizations and died in Spokane in 1906.