John Spellman
Born: Dec. 29, 1926, Seattle
High School: Seattle Prep 1944
Military service: Merchant Marine Cadet/Midshipman Academy, 1944; U.S. Navy, 1944-46
College: Seattle University, B.B.S., history-political science; valedictorian Class of 1949
Religious studies: Jesuit Novitiate of St. Francis Xavier, Sheridan, Ore., 1949
Law School: J.D., Georgetown University School of Law, Class of 1953; Member of national champion moot court team, 1952
Private practice: partner Kane & Spellman, Seattle, 1953-1966; partner Carney Badley Spellman, Seattle, 1985-
Marriage: Lois Elizabeth Murphy, Feb. 20, 1954; six children: Magaret, Bart, David, Jeff, Teresa, Katherine
Politics: (Republican) Seattle Municipal Civil Service Commission, 1962-1966; King County Library Board 1960-1966; candidate for mayor of Seattle, 1964; King County commissioner, 1966-1969; King County executive, 1969-1981; candidate for governor 1976; governor, 1981-1985; candidate for State Supreme Court, 1990
Accomplishments: Helped secure Major-League Baseball and National Football League franchises for Seattle; constructed King County multipurpose domed stadium, the Kingdome; rejected Northern Tier application for Puget Sound pipeline; preserved integrity of State Shoreline Management Act; initiated new trading opportunities with People’s Republic of China
Memberships: former vice-chairman of the U.S. Coastal Zone Management Advisory Commission; past president of the Puget Sound Council of Governments; former vice-chairman of the Puget Sound Economic Development Council, and former 12-year member of the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency and the council of the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (METRO). As governor, served as chairman of the National Governors' International Trade and Foreign Affairs Committee; on the advisory board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and as adviser to the U.S. Trade Ambassador Academic: Taught Administrative Law at Seattle University, 1981-1991
Civic activities: TVW, Board of Directors; Evergreen Safety Council, chairman; Serra Club, president; Camp Brotherhood, Board of Directors; Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation, Board of Directors
Honors and awards: LLDs, Honoris Causae, Seattle University, Walla Walla University, and Gonzaga University School of Law; King County’s John D. Spellman Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation