About the Author

Sam Sperry, 84, grew up in Seattle, Washington. After graduating with honors in History from Seattle University in 1965, he earned his Master’s degree in Public Affairs at the University of Oregon.

He began his reporting career at the Centralia Daily Chronicle. He moved to The Seattle Times in 1970 where he covered local government. Awarded a one-year Professional Journalism Fellowship at the University of Michigan in 1974, Sperry left reporting in 1977 to accept an appointment to establish the Seattle Energy [Conservation Planning] Office. He later worked at KING 5 News. And in 1987, he began a 13-year stretch at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, serving as Associate Editor-Editorial Page, and two years as the newsroom’s City Editor. 

Sperry also worked in staff positions in government: Director of the Seattle Energy Office under Mayors Wes Uhlman and Charles Royer; as Press Secretary to King County Executive Randy Revelle; and, as Policy Director for Gov. Gary Locke.

His varied career also included Vice President for Community Affairs at the Seattle Mariners; communications consulting at Gogerty Stark Marriott; and, as Communications Director for Alaska Airlines. He concluded his professional life in a consulting-partnership with Dr. Paul Hill, Director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, the University of Washington. 

Sperry’s community service included the Board of Directors for Seattle-King County Habitat for Humanity; Board of Regents, Seattle University; Archdiocesan Housing Authority (President) Board of Directors; and, Executive Committee Northwest Newspaper Guild. 

Now retired, Sam spends some free time writing. In 2014, Consolidated Press released his 1125 Harvard Avenue East: Kay Bullitt’s Gathering Place. The book is an autobiography about Katherine “Kay” Muller Bullitt, who over 40 years used her home for many social and political activities. She was the daughter-in-law of KING TV founder Dorothy Stimson Bullitt.

Sperry recently completed work on his debut novel, Coming of Age  – The Story of Pen and Gail, a work of historical fiction about two young women growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s. It is set for release by Classic Day Publishing in 2026. When he’s not writing, Sam enjoys an active life at Seattle’s Horizon House. He is married, a proud father of three daughters, a son, and has 10 grandchildren.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This feature article and the accompanying photography are available for your use copyright free and cost free. To arrange an interview of your own with Sam Sperry, or request a review copy of his debut novel, Coming of Age…The Story of Pen and Gail, please contact Rachel M. Anderson, Publicist, at 952-240-2513 or via email: rachel@rmapublicity.com