By Sharon Hofstra Haugen

There were many businesses in Burien that defined the community and there were those that are still remembered by the owner's name, such as Bell's of Burien, Jaffe Shoes, Perry West, Al Imhoff's, and Duetz's Bakery.

But there is one business that helped to protect these properties by patrolling the back alleys and streets during the darkness, warding off and discouraging vandalism and burglaries not only during the night but during business hours. That is the Hi-line Police Patrol and owner Don Hofstra, along with his German shepherd, Cap.

Hofstra arrived in the Burien area with his wife, Alberta and daughter Sharon in 1952 from Chicago.

He had accepted a position with King County Parks as recreation director.

Hofstra had been stationed at Ft. Lewis during his stint in the Army, where he played on both baseball and football teams. The Northwest beckoned him from that time forward.

In 1955, Hofstra took over the merchant patrol business for the Burien area from Jim Lowry and the Hi-Line Police Patrol was born. Hofstra had served briefly with the King County Sheriff's Office when this opportunity arose.

He was a member of the Washington State Safety Committee, the Optimist Club, Elks Club and the Lions Club of the Burien area, and was past president of the Fairwood Lions.

The patrol soon evolved into providing bank guards and training and providing store detectives for over 50 stores (and at one time had over 44 employees) and the installation of alarm systems in businesses and homes, forming ALARMCO Protective Services.

Hofstra received multitudes of letters from county sheriff's office for his outstanding services to the community and his cooperation with deputies in helping to make the Burien area a safer environment.

Hofstra, along with Hi-Line Police Patrol, played and sponsored bowling teams in the local area.

In 1970, Hofstra moved to Fairwood in Renton, with a contract to provide patrol services to that golf club community. On June 27, 1970, his beloved companion "Cap" died at age 15.

Don continued on with ALARMCO Protective Services until his retirement at which time he did some security work at Longacres and was chosen to guard Seattle Slew when the Triple Crown winner made an appearance there.

What many did not know is that prior to coming to Burien, Hofstra had had a stellar athletic career in Chicago.

Hofstra began his athletic career at Finger High School in Chicago between 1935-1937, lettering in baseball, football and wrestling.

After leaving high school "Butch" as he was known, played in the baseball minor leagues from 1937 to1941 with the Nebraska State, Pioneer and Texas leagues.

From 1941 to 1951, Hofstra organized, played, managed and co-sponsored the Fernwood baseball teams in southeast Chicago. The teams won over 200 games, climaxed by winning the Mid-West League Championship in 1950. Hofstra became known locally as the "Babe Ruth" of semi-pro baseball.

In 1944, Butch signed to play football with the Chicago Cardinals and, in 1945, had a tryout with the Chicago White Sox, but was drafted into the Army.

He also served as a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies and took part in various baseball schools in the Chicago area.

In 1984, Hofstra was inducted into the Roseland Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.

While stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Hofstra's baseball team was star studded with major league players and won 44 games in a row without a defeat. Among its victims were many minor league teams. The Ft. Lewis team won the Ninth Service Command title with Hofstra leading the team in hitting with a .395 batting average.

He continued his involvement with sports after he left military service. Hofstra organized Little League baseball in Seattle, and in 1954 was named state Babe Ruth Baseball commissioner. That year, his Babe Ruth Team took third place nationally.

Ron Santo, later to become a famed player and broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs, was a member of that team.

Hofstra told the story that Santo was an exceptionally good player but had difficulty getting to practice and many a time Hofstra went to his house to pick him up. But Hofstra saw excellent potential for the young ball player, who was 13 at the time.

Hofstra's youth activities program for the Seattle El's Club also took national honors two years in a row.

Hofstra passed away on Aug. 4th, 2000, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.