The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) has opened a powerful exhibit of photographs taken around the world by Bill Stafford, President of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle and resident of Queen Anne. Stafford has traveled the globe in his work positioning the region as an international leader. His photographs speak to the ties the Seattle area has with the global community.
Stafford began taking pictures when he was a young boy living in Long Island. The passion was reinforced by an incident that occurred when he was 12. He was home alone when a fighter jet crashed in his neighborhood.
One of the first on the scene, Stafford snapped several pictures with his Brownie Hawkeye camera and alerted the media to the accident. One of his photos appeared on the front page of the New York Daily News, complete with credit and payment of $75, which he used to buy a new camera.
Prior to his position with the Alliance, Stafford worked in several capacities for the city of Seattle including deputy mayor under Mayor Charles Royer and dDirector of intergovernmental relations.
Stafford has been involved with the Seattle area community for many years. He was awarded the 2009 World Citizen Award from the World Affairs Council for his service as an international ambassador. He has also played a key role with the national Sister Cities International organization and has been instrumental in implementing initiatives developed by the Prosperity Partnership project covering four counties. Stafford currently sits on the U.S. Department of Commerce's District Export Council and the University of Washington Business School's International Advisory Committee.
The exhibit will be on display at the McCurdy Gallery through July 18. As the gallery is periodically closed for private events, visitors are urged to check www.seattlehistory.org to be sure the exhibit is open.[[In-content Ad]]
