Along with several other businesses in White Center, Seattle Bronze Company (located at at 9812 17th Ave SW) is getting into the mural-painting act.
Chris Beaver, the current President of the company, wanted to paint a tribute to his late father, who took over the company in 2004. Chris says he has his father, Ricky Wayne Beaver (hence the RWB logo on the mural…the beaver is self-evident) to thank for his own work ethic and financial success.
It was never intended that Chris would work for his father. Hired for a two-week stint as a driver for the company when he was 19, Chris never left.
“It wasn’t always easy working for him,” Chris said.
Ricky was a taskmaster in what he expected from his employees, and he didn’t want to hear about problems, only solutions. Chris had barely made it through high-school, but in the family company, he found a place to excel. His ideas for making things better and seeing the big picture led him to the top.
After his Dad died in 2009, Chris became President.
While the Mural Project going on in White Center is a Chamber promotion, Chris’s mural is his own vision. He intends to paint one on the other side of his building as well.
Coincidentally, several other business owners are doing or have done the same thing, including this one on the side of the Super Saver Foods on 16th (click image to see larger version):
Do each of their murals have a story behind them?
The best way to find out? Go out and look at them!
