UW "friend-raiser" Tracy King, 73, had Husky pride

By Charles E. Brown
Seattle Times staff reporter

Tracy King was an avid fan of Huskies sports.

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"He certainly understood the goals and objectives of the association, and the university benefited greatly from his enthusiasm and his expertise," said John Bisset, a Camano Island retiree who preceded Mr. King as the association's executive director.

During Mr. King's tenure, from 1979-90, association membership grew from about 15,000 to nearly 50,000. "He had a loyalty and love of the university that just came through so clear to people," Bisset said.

Mr. King, of Edmonds, who had been in declining health in recent years, died Aug. 22 in a Seattle hospital. He was 73.

"He died with dignity and a lot of love," said his wife, Joan.

Born in Seattle, he grew up in Bellingham, Aberdeen and Vancouver, Wash. A 1949 Vancouver High School graduate, he excelled in several sports and led his state-championship football team as an all-state end, said family members.

He attended the UW on a football scholarship and earned his undergraduate degree in business in 1953. He then spent two years in the Army, which included an 18-month stint in Korea.

Family members said his early career was in the insurance industry, and he was a top-producing sales agent for New York Life in Seattle. That job led to his rejoining his alma mater in 1973 as director of the university's retirement and insurance office.

When he succeeded Bisset as alumni-association executive director, he focused his attention on increasing membership.

"He wasn't directly responsible for fund raising, but he was a great friend-raiser," Bisset said.

"Tracy was a Husky through and through," said former UWAA President Bruce Walker, who had known Mr. King since their undergraduate years.
 
"He was absolutely perfect for that job because everywhere he went he made friends. He had a soft way about him that was enormously appealing."

An avid golfer, Mr. King was a member of the Sand Point Country Club and Seattle Golf Club. He also was active in the Seattle Downtown Rotary, Tyee Club and Washington Athletic Club.

"He was equally as passionate about Husky sports, or for that matter any sport team of the season," his wife said.

For more than three decades, he made annual pilgrimages, often with hunting and fishing buddies, to rural Hi Hium Lake, B.C.

"It was his wish that the camp be preserved for future generations," his wife said.

In addition to his wife of 30 years, he is survived by four sons, Tracy Jr. of Wenatchee, Don of Kelowna, B.C., Ted of Park City, Utah, and David of Port Angeles; four stepchildren, Mary Jo Dedomenico of Seattle, Cathy Bachmann of Kirkland, Veda Jo Jenkins of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and Mark Dedomenico Jr. of Renton; and 15 grandchildren. Also surviving is Mr. King's twin brother, Don King, who lives in the San Francisco area, and sister Dolores Van Leeuwen, of Issaquah.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at University Presbyterian Church, 4540 15th Ave. N.E., with a reception following.

The family suggests remembrances in his name to Circle W Hi Hium Fishing Camp, Box 8, Savona, B.C., VOK2JO.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com