Jerry Hillis’ memories of living at Rainier Vista in the late 1940s are bittersweet. The prominent attorney, whose client list includes the Seattle Mariners and the Port of Seattle, lived in the neighborhood while in elementary school.

“There were hundreds of kids around, so there was always something to do and someone to play with,” said Jerry. “But there was also the understanding that you were trapped in the projects. We used to ride our bikes to the Mt. Baker neighborhood and peer into the windows of the homes. You could see the families and all that they had. It was very humbling.”

But even at that young age, Jerry had a plan. “I didn’t know any lawyers nor did I really understand what a lawyer did. But I would read books about Presidents and they all seemed to be lawyers. I wanted to be President; so naturally, I knew I had to become a lawyer. For me, it was a way out.”

In 1951, Jerry’s mother moved her family to Edmonds. At the time, the town was basically just farmland. “It was a drastic change, going from a neighborhood filled with kids to one where you had to find something to occupy your time.”

He graduated from Edmonds High School and attended Whitman College on a full scholarship, majoring in political science. There he was a star athlete, lettering in both football and track and field. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of Washington and shortly after started his own law firm.

Jerry credits his mother for instilling in him the need for an education. “She always stressed the importance of school. I was the first person in my family to graduate from high school, let alone college and graduate school.”

Having looked back on his early days at Rainier Vista, Jerry is very supportive of the neighborhood’s transformation. “I think the changes are tremendous. It’s what a neighborhood should be — a mix of cultures, people, and backgrounds. It enables everyone to reach out and learn from each other rather than get lost in their own groups.”