JACK C. HOOD 1919-1992; father's day, 2010

Our "affectionate daddy" was a great cook; hunter of mallards and morels; a tenor and debater; a wedding singer; a ladies' man; a cigarette smoker; state representative; Liquor Board Chairman; chicken farmer; cattle appraiser; banker; notary public; and a damn fine swimmer, too.

He was an unrepentant Republican who never lost an election; cohort of Dan Evans, Joel Pritchard, Ralph Munro, and was more liberal than Gary Locke or Bill Clinton. Slade Gorton was out to get him and eventually, he got him. (If he wasn't cremated, he'd be twirling in his grave over the sorry state of his Grand Old Party).

He was beloved to all who knew him and to many, many, who did not. He tried with all his heart to pencil in his family.

Born in Ferndale, Washington, he attended Whitman College and died in Tucson of the smoking disease. He married our mother twice; and two others, once each.

We think about him especially in salmon season and always wish we could hear him sing "The Foggy, Foggy Dew," just one more time.

Here's a commentary we did about his death for NPR's All Things Considered.

He was beloved to all who knew him and to many, many, who did not. He tried with all his heart to pencil in his family.

Born in Ferndale, Washington, he attended Whitman College and died in Tucson of the smoking disease. He married our mother twice; and two others, once each.

We think about him especially in salmon season and always wish we could hear him sing "The Foggy, Foggy Dew," just one more time.

Here's a commentary we did about his death for NPR's All Things Considered.

Comments

[Puget Sound]

Hey Bla'm, that's a very nice tribute to your father. And a Happy Father's day to you also.

I tried to get the link to play but it wouldn't load up for me. Anyone else having issues with it?

Can you elucidate a bit on Slade, your father, and party Politics.

[isabelita]

Well, Happy Father's Day, sir. My DOD - Dear Old Dad - was a fairly moderate Republican, who was so disgusted over Tricky Dick's shenannigans that he never voted again after Nixon resigned. He knew Reagan for what he actually was, a mouthpiece for the sacking and pillaging of this country and any other out in the world considered worth plundering, under the banner of "spreading freedom."

[Fremont]

Hey, Bla'M, is that the same father (and the same tribute) that you honored last year...and the year before...and the year before? It's a classic!

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Nice, Bla'm. Happy Father's day to my Dad, too, who has been gone since 1989.

[sparky]

My father was a Republican too, Michael, but I know that he would not be one today. He was a teacher for 35 years and a coach. He sang in the church choir and when we went to the store he always saw someone he knew, and a quick trip became an extended afternoon of shooting the bull with former students or neighbors. We spent many a Sunday finding out "where does this road go?" and he always had to have a bag of cookies to eat along the way. He taught me to fish when I was 6 yrs old, and later on how to tie on my own hook when I wanted to impress a new boyfriend. I really miss my father.

[Bob Tunny]

Slade did what he could to crush your Dad's political future. Your Dad did OK, though, finished his career honorably at the LB. Everybody like your Dad. Always wondered why Slade did that, he being a republican and all. I remember Slade before he sold his soul to the religious right. It did not work for him in the end, they never totally supported him and deserted him too in the end. Gov. Dan never did sell out to them and takes his lumps to this day. Somebody should write a book.