In 1928, six years after the first West Seattle Herald came off the presses, 13-year old Elwin Bostrom landed a job distributing the papers west from California Ave SW down Brandon and over to Juneau street. Nearly 60 homes on his route, all delivered on foot from a make-shift sack; and he could not miss a house. 

  Publisher Rupert Hamilton insisted his charges get that paper inside the door handle or the screen to keep it out of the weather. Bostrom was true to the task, never intentionally missing a door. He knew the consequences. Hamilton gave each carrier a Saturday pass to the Granada Theater for a perfect delivery record. That meant no complaints from customers. Although the paper was freely distributed in those days, West Seattle residents depended on the weekly musings and news much like they do today.
 
   Bostrom earned fifty cents a week and was happy to get it. For three years he delivered the paper, befriending local community leader Normie Beers in the process. Normie got lots of kids involved in the YMCA in the late 20's and early 30's. Elwin was one of those kids, spending countless hours there. It left a lasting impression on him.

   At fifteen he entered West Seattle High. He quit his route, studied and played hard on the basketball and baseball squads. By 1934, in the middle of the great depression, Elwin graduated. He opted for a life as a union seaman on a ship heading out of Seattle. The pay was good ($1 a day) but the food was miserable. Workers were striking in those days. Al decided college was a better option when the shipping companies hired Chinese workers at two cents a day.
 
   The University of Washington was close. Through their Broadway extension studies he took a regular schedule of classes. Al's athletic skills were improving. Al played a little pick-up baseball during college obtaining a education degree. 

 After graduation in 1940, he became "Al" accepting a coaching job at Stadium High in Tacoma. He felt his birth name did not carry enough respect for a coach. 

By 1943, with the war raging in Europe and the Pacific, Al signed on with the Merchant Marines.For two years he and his mates worked the shorelines of Alaska as well as the west coast. In August of 1945, five days before Hiroshima, his ship sailed up the Columbia River to Portland for repairs. Al's tour was up. He mustered out and headed for Seattle. 

 Working for the YMCA on Orcas Island, he met a cutie named Pearl Porter. Pearl,from Fortuna,North Dakota was part of a Methodist church retreat on the Island. He courted her like a gentleman should.They married and began a family. Al continued working as youth director at the YMCA.In his free time he developed his skill at handball, rising in the ranks against local players. Over time Al became camp director, retiring as executive director downtown in 1976. The last four years he served on the YMCA board.

  The YMCA was good for Al, Pearl and their three children. Richard, Patricia and Pamela. Al continued to hone his handball game while the kids became successful in their own right. Pat, now called "Trish", was a world class tennis champion and UW Husky hall of famer. She's an attorney at Bostrom Law in Seattle. Pamela lives and works in Totem Lake. Sadly, brother Richard passed away a few years ago. 

  Al continued playing handball locally at White Center with many fine players, including local dentist Roy Velling. Al got so good he competed world-wide, winning countless trophies. He was tabbed handball champ for his age group in his 80's. 

   We're not surprised with his youthful stance on steady legs. His dark blue eyes and shock of silver hair would suggest a younger man might not have chance of beating him even today.

  Al's attention to detail (he clearly remembers names and dates) along with his dedication to task and excellent physical condition prompts us to offer him a job. His old route is open. The Granada is gone now so we'll toss in a free ticket to the Admiral Theater if he doesn't miss a house. Rupert Hamilton would be proud.