SPOKANE — A former state senator, a current state representative and a Whatcom County businessman were all honored Tuesday by the Association of Washington Business for their outstanding civic, volunteer and leadership contributions.
“All three of these individuals have contributed to strengthening the fabric of their communities and the environment for businesses to succeed in Washington state,” said AWB President Don Brunell in remarks before the association’s board. “The awards we honor them with tonight are a token of the respect and admiration we have for their efforts, and we are so grateful for their respective contributions.”
C. DAVID GORDON AWARD
Former Democratic leader and state Sen. Sid Snyder is the 2010 recipient of the C. David Gordon Award, AWB’s highest award in recognition of Washingtonians who distinguish themselves in service to the state of Washington. C. David Gordon served as AWB president twice and is the association’s Honorary President for Life.
Snyder’s 50-plus year career in the state Capitol is legendary. He first came to Olympia in 1949 and worked as an elevator operator in the Legislative Building. He eventually took positions in the Bill Room and then became Assistant Chief Clerk of the House, a position he held until 1969. In the spring of 1969, he was elected Secretary of the Senate, after the passing of then Secretary Ward Bowden.
Like Bowden, Snyder built a reputation as a statesman and a gentleman among politicians. Snyder retired as Secretary of the Senate in 1988 but in the fall of 1990, he was appointed to fill a vacant Senate in his home district and was elected Democratic Caucus Chair as a freshman senator. Sid later served as Majority Leader of the Senate from 1999 until 2002.
Snyder officially retired from political life in 2002, returning home to Long Beach and his role as a grocer. His institutional knowledge of the Legislature and the Capitol are well-known — AWB President Don Brunell once said Snyder was like “a walking history book.”
“Sid is a man of integrity and his word was good as gold regardless if he agreed with you or not,” said Brunell. “His sense of humor and hearty laugh had a way of easing the tension during some pretty tense times.”
COOVERT AWARD
Ninth District Republican Rep. Susan Fagan received this year’s Judy Coovert Award, one of AWB’s newest awards. Established last year, the Coovert Award honors excellence in volunteerism to the association. Prior to Fagan’s election to the House last year, she chaired the association’s Health Care Committee and contributed countless hours to the joint legislative task force on Paid Family Leave. Fagan also served on the AWB Board of Directors and the association’s Executive Committee for five years as a representative of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. in Pullman. The award is named for longtime AWB member Judy Coovert, co-owner of Printcom, Inc. in Burien.
“Susan is very deserving of this award, having spent many, many hours in meetings and making the trek to Olympia from Pullman,” said Brunell. “Susan has been a fierce advocate for free enterprise and AWB in its effort to represent businesses of all size and industry in Washington. Her work on health-care issues these past few years has been vital to the association and we are pleased to present her with this award.”
BRUCE BRIGGS AWARD
Although unable to attend, Sanitary Service Company President Paul Razore was named the recipient of this year’s Bruce Briggs Award, an honor presented each year to an AWB member who continues to give back to his or her community. SSC has provided recycling and solid waste collection services to Bellingham and Whatcom County since Razore’s father helped found the company in 1929. Both Razore and SSC help sponsor more than 50 community and non-profit events each year in the Bellingham/Whatcom County area.
In recent years, Razore has been a major contributor to the renovation of the emergency department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, the Bellingham Farmers Market and the annual Ski-to-Sea community event.
Razore and SSC are known as much by their quiet, anonymous gifts to the community as they are by the fleet of blue SSC trucks.
“Paul is a gentle man—the kind of person every child would want as a grandfather,” said Brunell. “He is also a very private person, preferring to let his actions speak for themselves.
“Paul’s thoughtful leadership and service to the people of Whatcom County have made a difference in the lives of so many people, and we are proud to honor him for those efforts with this award.”
About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,000 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.
