The students of Spanish teacher Rick Reed were familiar with dramatic stories and the occasional exaggeration, so the knowledge that their teacher and Washington governor Jay Inslee were high school friends did not seem to warrant much thought. At least, not until the governor walked into the Spanish classroom of their small town high school with the sole motivation of visiting his old friend and state champion teammate, Reed.

Governor Inslee and his wife Trudi Inslee visited Sedro-Woolley high school on February 2. Reed, Inslee, and Mrs. Inslee all attended Ingraham High School in their teenage years. Inslee was a very popular student at the time and someone, Reed says, he always thought highly of; the two were on the high school’s basketball team in 1968-1969, where the seeds of their friendship were planted. 

In 1969, the Ingraham high school basketball team won the Washington state basketball championship in a moment Inslee remembers as clear as day.

“Rick swatted the ball with his hands. What’s remarkable is Rick was not known as one of the great leapers and he was like three feet off the ground, he was like a flying force of nature,” said Inslee. “It’s something that is blazened in my memory.”

In celebration of their victory, the Ingraham basketball team visited Olympia and took a group photo in the governor’s office — there the two stood, as basketball champions, as peers, and that attitude would stick around even as Inslee himself sat in that office as the state governor 44 years later. 

Although they differ politically, Reed emphasizes his respect for Inslee and what he’s accomplished as governor. Understanding someone’s good intentions, character, and efforts is essential to maintaining a friendship, and it’s a notion Reed holds dear. 

“What an incredibly difficult job,” said Reed. “I think he’s done it well.” 

Governor Inslee’s visit was big news for the school; principal Kerri Carlton was joined by Mayor Julia Johnson, School board president Eric Johnson, assistant superintendent Brian Isakson, as well as student body representatives. 

Upon entering the building, the governor and his wife were quick to greet the small group of staff, students, and officials with chatter and anecdotes.They walked into a classroom of students seated in neat rows before Reed acknowledged Inslee with a smug “hey, I know you.”

 Reed took the visit as an opportunity to impress Inslee with his classes, insistent on displaying the hard work of his Spanish students by verbally quizzing them on grammar. Students responded quickly, to which Inslee asked the students what they found to be the most successful part of Reed’s teaching.

“Having a teacher that cares for us helps,” said 11th grader Luc Marshall. He and other students shared their appreciation for Reed’s advice and lectures about life lessons.  

Reed may have won them the game, but “Inslee stole the in-bounds pass,” he said to the classroom. Both Reed and Inslee devote themselves to spreading messages of goodwill and humility, virtues that are visible in both their friendship and Inslee’s visit. 

The reminiscing concluded with an exchange of gifts; Reed handed Governor Inslee a blue “All the Cool Cubs are Reading” T-shirt, and Inslee left Reed with a close up photo of a teenage Reed standing in the governor’s office in Olympia after the Ingraham High School victory in 1969.

 It was signed “Reed, you’re a champ – Jay Inslee”.