Back in 1969 when Dr. Aaron’s wife, Emily Aaron, a real estate broker with Properties Unlimited, suggested she knew of a clinker brick duplex for sale in Lakewood, Joe replied, “Lakewhere?” Joe and his wife found their way from their hometown of Puyallup, Washington, to the unknown place called Lakewood without the benefit of GPS or Mapquest. Once they found Lakewood, they never left.
During the early days of the half century that has now passed Joe Boyle voted 3 times for Lakewood to become a city. No, Joe did not cheat by voting 3 times in one election. Joe voted 3 times in 3 different polls for city-hood until we achieved being known as The City of Lakewood.
Joe has been involved with many facets of The City of Lakewood including, rentals, real estate brokerage, a property management company, Crime Free Housing, a Laser sailboat business, and 15 years of crime fighting in Lakewood as a deputy with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
Of course, Joe’s brightest achievement is enjoying the distinction of having consumed approximately 21,170 cups of Lakewood espresso which equates to $63,510 pumped into Lakewood’s economy. Joe is known for supporting jobs in Lakewood; well at least barista jobs.
Now retired for six years this coming April Fool’s Day, Joe is thought of as a Lakewood Pioneer; you know, like Puyallup’s Ezra Meeker. Well, at least his pals Jim and Larry think of Joe as a pioneer.
It is of little surprise that a suggestion was made to our Lakewood City Council that a bronze statue of Joe should be erected in front of Lakewood City Hall.
A famous bronze artist from Utah, Stanley James Watts, was commissioned to sculpt a likeness of Joe as Joe points the way towards city-hood. Many art lovers who previewed Mr. Watts work, agreed that the sculpture is of such a remarkably high quality, the artwork makes Joe look almost life-like.
While Lakewood City Council was committed to their desire to recognize Joe as a Lakewood pioneer, they unanimously voted to scale back the art project to better fit our city budget in light of the fact, the city may have to drain Waughop Lake.
But more importantly, the City Council concluded the statue honoring Joe Boyle needs to properly fit Mr. David Anderson’s measurement of Joe’s actual contribution to our community of Lakewood over the past 50 years.
That’s funny Joe.
Actually, I have a proposal.
Democratic state Sen. Reuven Carlyle of Seattle wants to replace the statue of Marcus Whitman at both Washington’s (Olympia and D.C.) capitols.
Carlyle didn’t say who – or what, or why – should be dutifully memorialized in marble in lieu of the legendary minister and doctor of Pacific Northwest history, Whitman striking a heroic pose with Bible in one hand, satchels in the other as reported by Tom Banse in the January 30, 2019 Northwest News Network.
Carle did seem to imply however that he was open to suggestions when he said, “I think that we are changing as a society and there is a lot of benefit from having that discourse about where we want to go in the years ahead.”
OK then, here are my nominations.
The cryptid.
It was this very month of February two years ago when Republican Sen. Ann Rivers of La Center floated her bill that would designate the elusive Sasquatch “as the ‘official cryptid’ of Washington state.”
After all, says Rivers, the never-seen-beast has “made immeasurable contributions to Washington state’s cultural heritage and ecosystem.”
Even though the huge hairy hoax has not yet made an appearance and “scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot,” (aka Sasquatch) “and consider it to be a combination of folklore and misidentification rather than a living animal,” still there are legislators like Rivers who believe he (her, it, whatever) should be dutifully recognized.
But if not Whitman, and if not “an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated” then how about:
The Pine Mushroom.
Yes, that got a bill in its flavor, er, favor in Olympia too.
No, seriously.
Thirteen (13) legislator signers-on nominated their own ecosystem entry of distinction: the tricholoma magnivelare, more familiar (or not) as the lowly pine mushroom.
Evidently with a straight face, these lawmakers wrote we “hereby designate the pine mushroom as the official state fungi of the state of Washington.”
“Hereby.” So, that’s official then.
Their rationale for House Bill 1812: “the tricholoma magnivelare is notably sought after for its distinct smell and delicious flavor.”
Or, for the reasons you mentioned: Joe Boyle.
David,
I am not surprised, but happy that you could find the humor in my most recent collection of words.
Even though we have recently, once more, been a couple of polar opposites on an issue or two, it looks like we are still friends.
Thanks for being comfortable on the high road.
And thanks for nominating me to replace a mushroom.
Joseph Boyle
I was truly happy to see and read your article. I had feared the worst after we had resumed our long-standing, well-known feud. As to the mushroom nomination comparison, yes it’s a tough choice but who knows, given the goings-on in the venerable halls of the legislature, you may well get a bill, if not a statue, in your honor. 🙂
Joe,
Didn’t you use to entertain as Mr. Bojangles?
Don
p.s. I love the pose.
D
Now, if only our legislators in the “BIG” Washington back east could get along like you three do, I’d be happy…and so would the majority of the rest of us. Perhaps you might consider some OJT for our feckless leaders back there to bring them up to speed on how we cooperate and get things done out west! Keep it coming, boys. You make my day! Love you!!
You keep cracking me up, Joe. Thank you. And what with all you have been doing for Lakewood ever since you found there (I’m a big fan of maps myself, by the way) – your shoes are quite sizeable, and it will be hard for others to fill them, I’m sure.
Joe, Be careful. You know what they feed mushrooms.
Larry
Wow, I saw that pose and I thought it was John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.