Bremerton People Trivia

Ever just search around the net for interesting facts about the places you have lived? I always like reading the articles from Forbes or Money magazines of the “Top” whatever lists. I love to find out about the history of a city, from all types of perspectives. I love to talk to those that have lived in an area there entire life. My neighbor has lived in her home since the early 50′s and I am fascinated by the stories she tells and the people she knew. On one of my searches I found a little tid bit about “notable” people that lived here, were born here or for some reason have a connection to the City of Bremerton.

• Mike Enzi, Senior U.S. Senator (R-WY)
• Jazz legend Quincy Jonesmoved to Bremerton at age 10. As a teenager, he first met up with Ray Charles after traveling to clubs in Seattle.
• The punk/rock band MxPxwas started in Bremerton and all three members still reside there.
• The indie rocker Ben Gibbard, known for his work in The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and All-Time Quarterback, was also born in Bremerton, Washington.
• Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbardattended Union High School and wrote his early works while living in Bremerton during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
• Bill Gates Sr, father of the Microsoft billionaire, was born in Bremerton and began his law career with the local firm of Merrill Wallace. The elder Gates’ father operated a furniture store and ice cream parlor in downtown Bremerton.
• Fifteen-term U.S. Congressman Norm Dickswas born and raised in Bremerton, the son of a Puget Sound Naval Shipyard worker. Dicks serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and also sits on the Select Committee on Homeland Security.
• Long-time KJRradio disk jockey and general manager Pat O’Day (nee Paul Berg) is a 1953 graduate of Bremerton High School. He began his concert-promotion empire by holding teen dances at Bremerton’s Sheridan Park Recreation Center and the Spanish Castle in Seattle. He would later go on to promote such noted acts as Merilee Rush, Heart, The Wailers and Jimi Hendrix.
• Actor Howard Duff, best known as the radio voice of Sam Spadeand later as Det. Sgt. Sam Stone in the late-’60s NBC television series Felony Squad, was born in Charleston, Washington, now part of Bremerton.
• Seattle Marinersutilityman Willie Bloomquistwas born in Bremerton and grew up in nearby Port Orchard.
• Dana Kirk and Tara Kirk attended Bremerton High School and received scholarships in swimming to attend Stanford University. They have competed multiple times in collegiate and non-collegiate swimming, including the 2004 Olympic games – the first sisters to be members of a U.S. Olympic Swim team.
• Marvin Williams, a graduate of Bremerton High School, signed to the NBA team Atlanta Hawksin 2005. As a senior at Bremerton High School, Williams averaged 28.7 points, 15.5 rebounds, five blocks and five assists and earned McDonald’s and Parade All-America honors. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and helped lead them to the 2005 NCAA Championship.
• Geologic, the lead rapper for the Blue Scholarswho has also performed as a spoken word poet, is from Bremerton. The Blue Scholars have opened for and shared stages with such artists as De La Soul, Slick Rick, Kanye West, Immortal Technique, Masta Ace, Mos Def and Little Brother.
• Benji Olson, offensive guard for the NFL franchise Tennessee Titans, was born in Bremerton and attended nearby South Kitsap High School.
• Avram Davidson, author and literary critic, spent the end of his life in Bremerton, dying there on May 8, 1993.
• Architect Steven Hollwas born in Bremerton on December 9, 1947.
• Alex Smith, Quarterback of the San Francisco 49erswas born in Bremerton.
• Elizabeth George (Christian author)