The love for Paul Allen continues in his hometown as Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan proclaimed Friday, Jan. 18, to be “Paul G. Allen Day” in honor of the Microsoft co-founder, who passed away last October at the age of 65.
The proclamation was made Friday morning at the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Outlook 2019 event, where Allen was also named the 2018 Executive of the Year.
Durkan called Allen “a true son of Seattle” and someone who “worked tirelessly to make his beloved city — and our world — a better, more vibrant place; … from co-founding Microsoft, to his landmark work as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, conservationist and stalwart supporter of the arts, Paul helped change the trajectory of people’s lives for the better. …”
Allen was also called a “kind, brilliant and good-hearted man” and a “giant of the Pacific Northwest.”
Allen’s sister Jody Allen said that her brother loved his community and she called the special day a great honor.
“Paul was a true Seattleite, and his vision and legacy will continue through the ongoing efforts of the projects he supported and institutions he founded,” Jody Allen said. “My thanks to Mayor Durkan and the entire region for this recognition.”
The Washington State Legislature is also getting in on the act with plans to acknowledge Allen — alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities — on Monday. The day happens to be Allen’s birthday and a resolution will be read on the floor of the Senate to further speak to how he transformed the state and the world.
Allen was also honored across the Seattle region on Nov. 3 when a number of buildings and landmarks were lit up in blue as a tribute.
Happy Paul Allen Day! Thanks @MayorJenny and @CityofSeattle for declaring January 18, 2019, Paul Allen Day. What a moving tribute to our founder as we continue his work. What do you think was Paul's greatest contribution to our city?
Read » https://t.co/9OtG49Dv9X pic.twitter.com/nFlUqvwPuC— Vulcan Inc. (@VulcanInc) January 18, 2019
Happy Paul Allen Day! Thanks @MayorJenny & the @CityofSeattle for declaring January 18, 2019, Paul Allen Day. What a moving tribute to our founder as we continue his work connecting people with computers. #PaulAllenDay pic.twitter.com/W0RJb1ssUA
— Living Computers (@LivingComputers) January 18, 2019
Thanks @MayorJenny and the @CityofSeattle for declaring January 18, 2019, Paul Allen Day in Seattle.
It's a wonderful tribute to our founder as we work to carry out his vision for tackling the hard problems in bioscience. pic.twitter.com/iFIg5pVpe9
— Allen Institute (@AllenInstitute) January 18, 2019