A Will to Serve

"Jim Ellis was one of the most influential and impactful civic leaders of Seattle's and Washington's recent history. Without ever seeking elected office, Ellis' vision and drive was the key force behind many major projects defining our city, county, and region from the 1960s through today. From cleaning up Lake Washington, establishing King County Metro, and implementing the broad array of community centered Forward Thrust improvement initiatives, to forward-thinking regional projects like the Mountains to Sound Greenway and the Washington State Convention Center, Ellis was astute at bringing together leaders across political divides to create consensus and change. A Will to Serve is a story about the balance and interconnectivity of personal life and civic life. It's about how the individual people--family, friends, neighbors, colleagues--their shared challenges, and how they worked together to effect change for regional progress. A Will to Serve is Ellis' first-person insight into a tumultuous and dynamic period of our regional history and a window into how patience, persistence, and vision can effect change. Ellis kept notes on his life and projects, wrote extensively about his experiences, and built a deep portfolio of public speeches. He drew from these to shape his detailed and engaging autobiography, a compelling telling of regional history. The Will to Serve, in Ellis' own words, is introduced and framed by former Secretary of the Interior, and Jim Ellis mentee, Sally Jewell. Several key accomplishments of his later life are presented by HistoryLink historian Jennifer Ott"--