Our view: Positive attitude, aptitude leave much to celebrate

In 1963, the Cold War chilled fear into every Spokane household. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a fresh memory, and the Berlin Wall a fresh reality. Economists predicted a deep recession. Seattle had hosted a smashingly successful World’s Fair in 1962. Meanwhile, Spokane skulked in the shadow of the state’s biggest city.

King Cole, working in community development in San Leandro, Calif., took a leap of faith and moved his big family to Spokane in 1963. He became executive secretary of Spokane Unlimited, a group hoping to revive Spokane’s image and economy. Cole noticed that people were letting their yards and houses go, especially in the middle-income neighborhoods.

Cole and many others then dreamed an impossible dream. Why not try to entice a world’s fair to Spokane? It would revitalize downtown and the Spokane River, which were blighted by worn-out railroad infrastructure. Against nearly impossible odds, Expo ’74 happened. Downtown and the river were reclaimed; Riverfront Park was born.

Spokane has certainly come a long way, but recession jitters and international tensions erode confidence again in 2008. Fear can be paralyzing. Cole, featured as today’s Civic Elder, reminds us that negative attitudes can quickly become self-fulfilling prophecies – for individuals and communities.

A positive attitude alone won’t change much, however. But attitude combined with vision and action can transform a city and – as happened here in 1974 – can bring the whole world to your door.