The West Seattle Grand Parade organization has named Clay Eals, Executive Director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the recipient of the 2016 Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. Eals will be honored during the parade on Saturday, July 23rd. The parade is produced by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation.

He is a lifetime member of, and has volunteered in many roles for, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society since its founding in 1984; in 2013, he was named the organization's first executive director.

During his tenure as executive director, the organization has restored the Admiral totem pole at its 1904 "Birthplace of Seattle" Log House Museum on Alki, facilitated the transition of ownership and in-progress restoration of the beloved 1904 Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead, staged "Group Hug" photo events for the Homestead and the Admiral Theater, built its annual Champagne Gala Brunch to capacity crowds at Salty’s on Alki, broadened its ranks of donors, sponsors, members and volunteers and strengthened the collection and exhibit operations of its museum. The organization won honors from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce as 2015 Non-Profit of the Year.

Eals, author, historian, heritage advocate and journalist, is perhaps best known locally as editor of the "West Side Story" history book and for his leadership of the successful drive to secure city landmark status for the Admiral Theater. 

For 15 years Eals worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for four Northwest newspapers. In addition to his journalistic positions, he worked for 13 years as an editor and writer for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, five years as communication officer for the Encompass children’s services nonprofit in North Bend and two years as a journalism teacher and adviser at South Seattle College. He has authored two books: biographies of child film actress Karolyn Grimes and singer/songwriter Steve Goodman and contributed to  “Rain Check: Baseball in the Pacific Northwest”.