NW Briefs | Bud Ericksen, former UW center, Redskin, dies at 92

Carlton "Bud" Ericksen, a University of Washington center from Bothell who later played with the Washington Redskins, died Monday at age 92.

Mr. Ericksen was the son of Bothell pioneers and served as mayor of the town from 1969-73. He operated an auto dealership in Bothell for 27 years and later was executive director of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce.

As a UW center, Mr. Ericksen scored a touchdown in a bowl game. In the 1937 Pineapple Bowl, he took a lateral from a running back and raced 32 yards for the opening touchdown in a 53-13 win over Hawaii. He also was a standout as a defensive lineman and linebacker.

An honorable mention All-American, Ericksen played in the 1938 College All-Star Game in which the college stars beat the Redskins 28-16.

The longtime Husky season-ticket holder attended WSU home games from 1999-2004 to watch his granddaughter Kimberly play in the Cougar Marching Band.

"Nobody wore purple except him but Cougar fans started calling him 'the friendly Husky,' " Kimberly said.

In addition to his daughter Edith Berg of Woodinville and granddaughter Kimberly Dunlap of Lake Stevens, he is survived by daughter Susan Ericksen of Kirkland and son Michael of San Diego.

Mr. Ericksen had lived with Edith and her husband, Jim, for 10 years and died at home.

Mr. Ericksen's wife, Pat, whom he met while serving stateside as a captain in the Army Air Corps in World War II, died in 1996.

A funeral service will be held next Wednesday at Bothell United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m. There will be a viewing from 10:45-11:15 before the service. A reception at the church will follow. Interment will at Acacia Memorial Park.

The family is creating the Bud Ericksen Inspirational Scholarship for a Bothell High School senior football player and it will handled by The Bothell branch of Frontier Bank. The family also suggests remembrances to the Bothell Historical Society.

Notes

• Eleven boats will make the eastern swing of the American Boat Racing Association unlimited hydroplane season, according to a report on the ABRA Web site.

All 11 boats are expected to compete in all six national events, beginning with the Evansville, Ind., race June 27-29. The circuit races are in the Tri-Cities on July 25-27 and in Seattle on Aug. 1-3.

Dave Villwock, the winningest active driver with 55 victories, will pilot the U-1 Ellstrom's Elam Plus. The other boats: U-3 Cooper Motorsports, U-5 Formulaboats.com, U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto, U-7 Formulaboats.com, U-10 Miss Ahern Rentals, U-13 Graham Trucking/Spirit of Detroit, U-25 Miss Jarvis Construction, U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing, U-50 (sponsor TBA), U-100 Mirageboats.com.

• The Seattle Sounders have signed Seattle University standouts Jason Cascio and John Fishbaugher for the 2008 season.