An idea conceived
in the cradle of King County’s civil rights movement
became reality today as the Metropolitan King County Council unanimously
adopted a new design for King County’s official logo: an image of
the county’s namesake,
the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “This was a dream introduced by the people of King County, who nurtured the dream when it would have been very easy to give up because of the anger and criticism the dream caused,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett, prime sponsor of the ordinance. “When I joined the County Council, the only recognition that this county was named after America’s foremost civil rights leader was a plaque
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Councilmembers are joined by County Executive Ron Sims, Sheriff Sue Rahr, District Court Judge Barbara Linde, Prosecutor Norm Maleng and former Councilmember Bruce Laing after unanimously adopting the new design for King County’s official logo: an image of the county’s namesake, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
“This is truly a day of celebration because a county that is justifiably proud of its diverse heritage and history now has as its ‘face’ a Nobel Peace Prize winner who gave his life fighting for equality, liberty, peace, and opportunity,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “Dr. King’s leadership, and the movement he ignited, allowed cultural and racial diversity to thrive in King County and throughout our nation. With all that he stood for, King’s image is a far more appropriate symbol of democracy than a monarchial crown.”
“By voting on the King County logo change, we are making known our intention that government strives for the ideals that Dr. King exemplified, the highest calling for any body ‘for the people’,” said Council Vice Chair Julia Patterson. “When we say King County, when we mail a letter on King County letterhead, and when we visit the King County website, we will now formally acknowledge and make visible our government’s commitment to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stand as a figurehead for our county.”
“It is an honor for King County to be associated with the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Councilmember Dow Constantine. “Adopting his image as our county’s logo will provide a daily reminder of his challenge that we as a nation must continue to strive to live up to our ideals.”“Today’s vote is the culmination of an effort that spans three decades, and I congratulate those who worked on making this new logo a reality,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “It is a living example of the ‘Beloved Community’ that Dr. King gave his life for and a reminder of why this logo is so important: because it embodies the bedrock democratic principles that we all believe in.”
Councilmember Gossett introduced the legislation to replace crown logo with a likeness of Dr. King in 1999 and spent seven years working on its adoption. The design—which was publicly unveiled Sunday at a community celebration at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Seattle’s Central Area—replaces the crown design that has been the graphic identity of King County for 39 years. When created in 1852, King County was named after U.S. Vice President and slaveowner William Rufus DeVane King. In 1986 the County Council passed a motion changing the county’s eponym to that of Dr. King. That motion did not have the force of law, however, until the state Legislature approved and Governor Gregoire in April 2005 signed Engrossed Senate Bill 5332 changing the county’s namesake.
The legislation adopted by the Council in 2006 directed the County Executive to transmit for Council approval a new logo design in the likeness of Dr. King, along with graphic standards, guidelines and procedures for its use. The ordinance prohibits use of the new logo for purposes of fundraising or solicitation of donations, other than to the county and its Employee Charitable Campaign, or to advertise or promote commercial events or merchandise, goods or services.
Over the last year the public, county employees and county technical staff collaborated on guidelines for the logo design. The final design, created by Tony Gable and the Gable Design Group of Seattle, was chosen over designs submitted by 29 firms. The design submitted to the Council was chosen by a panel consisting of Council Chair Gossett, County Executive Ron Sims, County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, County Sheriff Sue Rahr and Superior Court Presiding Judge Michael Trickey.
To keep costs to a minimum the new logo will be phased in over a five-year period. Existing stocks of letterhead, envelopes and business cards will be depleted before supplies with the new logo are ordered. For such durable items as vehicles and signage, the logo will be phased in as older vehicles and signs are replaced in the regular course of business.
King County now joins Seattle and the state of Washington in having logos that bear the likenesses of their namesakes. Since 1937 Seattle’s corporate seal has borne the image of Chief Sealth. The likeness of George Washington has graced the seal of the state of Washington since statehood in 1889.
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Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200,
Seattle, WA 98104-3272