ARTHUR PAULSEN

Arthur Ross Paulsen, longtime Tacoma attorney, died peacefully at his home overlooking Commencement Bay on October 12, 2010. He was born in Tacoma on December 12, 1916 to Anna and Emil Paulsen. He attended McKinley Elementary, Gault and Stewart Junior Highs, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1935. After working for a year piling lumber in a sawmill, he began studying at the University of Washington (UW) in 1936. He continued to work throughout college - becoming a Certified Journeyman Carpenter in 1939 - and graduated from UW with a B.A. degree in 1940. The summer after graduation he attended the College of Puget Sound Ground School at Muehler-Harkins Field, where he earned his private pilot license. Mr. Paulsen completed two years of law school at UW before Pearl Harbor, at which time he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He commenced Navy Officers training at Notre Dame University. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1942 and was assigned to the USS South Dakota. On board he served as a main battery officer, officer of the deck, and catapult officer. He spent three years on the USS South Dakota in the North Atlantic and South Pacific and received twelve battle stars for his service. After WWII he returned to the UW and graduated with his law degree in 1946. While in college, Mr. Paulsen entered politics as the president of the Northwest Young Democrats. In 1946 he was elected as a Democratic State Representative from the 28th District, and he was re-elected in both 1948 and 1950. In 1952 he organized the first "Keefauver for President Committee" in the United States, and was a delegate to the 1952 and 1968 Democratic National Conventions. He practiced law in Tacoma from 1946 until his retirement in 2008. In 1961 he was appointed as a Pierce County Superior Court Judge by Governor Albert Rosellini, where he served for five years before returning to his private law practice. Mr. Paulsen strongly believed in community involvement, as demonstrated by his service as a member or officer in numerous civic organizations, including Family Service of Tacoma, Pierce County Rehabilitation Committee, Young Men's Business Club of Tacoma, Eastside Boys Club, Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, B.P.O.E. No. 174, Elks-Allenmore Men's Club, Scandinavian Fraternity of America, Destiny Lodge No. 192, Scottish Rite, 33° Mason, Afifi Shrine, Provo Guard, Amvets, Stewart and Fawcett PTAs. Living through the Depression during his teen years, he saw suffering, and, like so many others, he lost hope. For him it was Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal that kept hope alive in America. He was helped through college by the National Youth Administration (a New Deal program), where he earned $15 a month by working three hours a week. It was during that difficult time when he realized government was necessary for the well-being of its citizens. Since then, he dedicated his life to supporting various social causes, Democratic politicians, and progressive policies. To further his social commitments, in 2006 he established the Arthur R. and Anna Mae Paulsen Endowed Visiting Chair in Public Affairs at the University of Washington Tacoma. In addition, he created the Arthur and Anna Mae Paulsen Foundation for the purpose of supporting education, health and environmental issues. Arthur married Anna Mae Asplund in 1944, and she preceded him in death in 2000. He is survived by his three children, Carol (Joe) Faubion of Olympia, Charles Ross Paulsen, and Arthur Robert Paulsen of Tacoma, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, his sister Mable Sage Bailey of Puyallup, and numerous nieces and nephews. At his request no services will be held.