Former governor breaks hip

SEATTLE – Former Washington Gov. Albert D. Rosellini was recovering from surgery at a Seattle hospital Thursday after breaking his hip in a fall over the weekend.

The 99-year-old had surgery Thursday morning at Harborview Medical Center and was doing as well as could be expected, his family said. He fell Sunday morning at his Seattle apartment and spent most of the week at the University of Washington Hospital before being transferred for the procedure.

“He’s normally at his office several days a week, so this is quite a switch for him,” said his daughter, Jane Campbell of Bellevue. “We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.”

Doctors planned to try to have him walk again on Friday.

“It’s a painful injury,” said his eldest son, John. “He’s done the best anybody can do under those circumstances. The doctors are optimistic so we’re optimistic.”

Rosellini held office from 1957 to 1965 and was credited with big successes on transportation issues, including construction of the floating State Route 520 bridge across Lake Washington that was later named for him.

He also reformed state prisons and institutions for mentally ill people and mentally handicapped children, helped create the University of Washington Medical School and Dental School and sparked the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962.

Rosellini has remained extremely active over the years and continues to visit with friends and discuss politics and business.

On Monday, he was scheduled to join Gov. Chris Gregoire and former Govs. Gary Locke, Dan Evans and Mike Lowry at a charity golf outing at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge to benefit the College Success Foundation.

“He was so disappointed he couldn’t make it,” Gregoire spokeswoman Laura Lockard said.