I have always gloried in being the father of a flock of boys.

Macho thing? Perhaps. But it gave me a sense of uniqueness. Just lucky, but I have always liked being envied for my brood. Of course, it is just chance at work.

Those boys, eventually five, were arranged by my first wife, Lee Bower, whom I met by chance while walking down the hall past my high school auditorium and hearing piano music.

Curious, I opened the double door and there was a pretty blonde seated at a piano up on the stage all by herself playing "Deep Purple," which happened to be one of my favorite melodies. I watched and listened with fascination. Then I quietly left.

Wonder of wonders, not long after that, I was calling on another blonde who lived near me in an apartment house. I was knocking on her door one Saturday when another door opened down the hall.

There stood the piano player. I was a little stunned.

"Orpha is not home," she yelled.

I was slightly in shock but thanked her and asked if she played the piano. I told her about the musical moment in the auditorium. She did not recall it but after a short conversation revealed that she just happened to be dating our high school baseball team's all-star catcher.

I slunk off...I was not about to get friendly with the girl of some muscled guy who was familiar with baseball bats.

And that is how I met the talented Lee Bower. The piano did it. I quickly forgot all about the glamorous Orpha.

Flash forward to Jan. 1, 1952. I was father of five sons. I became the new publisher of the White Center News.

This edition marks our 59th anniversary and what a ride it has been.

In that time, we added the West Seattle Herald, the Highline Times, the Ballard News Tribune and Federal Way News and started Rotary Offset Printing in 1960. It was headquartered in White Center on 14th SW.

In January of 1968, my wife Lee passed away. In November 1968, Elisabeth McDaniel, popular hostess at the famed Epicure Restaurant in White Center and mother of two daughters and a son became the new Mrs. Robinson.

November of this year will mark her 42 years as associate publisher.

Thanks for sticking with us. We love our loyal readers.

Next week I will recall some of the highlights of over half a century bringing you the local news.