Former Mayor of Seattle Charles Royer died Friday at his home in Gearhart, OR. Royer served three terms as mayor from 1978-1990.
Royer was the 48th and longest-serving mayor of Seattle.
In many ways he was far ahead of his time, for example, he decided that the city would recognize registered partnerships and that these families would receive municipal benefits.
Royer also rejected a proposal for a waste incinerator and implemented a recycling and waste reduction plan that became a national model.
In addition, he committed himself to social housing as a city and opened twenty health centres.
Royer also worked on the relocation of the Seattle Art Museum to downtown and the development of the Washington State Convention Center across I-5.
Charles Royer was born in 1939 in Medford, Oregon. He joined the Army in 1961 and after leaving, studied journalism at the University of Oregon.
Before becoming mayor, Royer worked as a reporter and news analyst in Portland and Seattle. He received several awards for his work in journalism.
Royer is survived by his wife Lynn Claudon, two children; Suzanne Royer McCone and Jordan Royer, and 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Memorial services have not yet been announced.
