Anson A. `Bob' Littler, 90, Owner Of Clothing Store Chain

In 1931, Anson A. ``Bob'' Littler did something many regarded as a little crazy. He opened a clothing store in downtown Seattle in the midst of the Great Depression.

Through his hard work and a smart assessment of the market, Littler Inc., which specialized in quality clothing and service, grew to three stores in downtown Seattle and a fourth in Pebble Beach, Calif. Now under different ownership, Littler Inc. continues to sell upscale clothing from its modern location under the Security Pacific Tower.

Mr. Littler, 90, was a three-time chairman of Seafair and the friend of such luminaries as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. He suffered a stroke three years ago and died last Wednesday in Santa Barbara, Calif.

``Bob always felt, and I think most of his customers did too, that he had the finest store in Seattle,'' said his wife, Elizabeth. ``He only carried fine merchandise, so a phrase developed in the advertising: `Look to Littler for the Littler look.' ''

Mr. Littler's look came from a persistent eye for fashion trends. Yearly trips to California resulted in connections there, and when it came time to retire in 1965, he and his wife settled in Santa Barbara during the summers and Palm Desert, near Rancho Mirage, in the winters.

After serving in World War I, Mr. Littler came home to Dayton, Ohio. He accompanied his family in a move to Seattle in 1920 and got a job as a clerk at Frederick & Nelson in the menswear department.

Ten years later, ``he decided he'd like to go into business by himself,'' said his son-in-law and longtime associate, Laurence Fry. ``He had the backing of the manufacturers and the bank and he worked hard at it.''

During the Depression, Mr. Littler's business at 417 Union St. thrived because there weren't many clothing stores left and because he filled a demand for quality merchandise. By the 1950s, Mr. Littler's business included the original men's store, a women's store and numerous accessory departments in the White-Henry-Stuart Building.

Those businesses occupied a half block on Union to the corner of Fifth Avenue. There was a third shop at what is now the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel. In 1953, he acquired a shop at Del Monte Lodge in Pebble Beach.

Mr. Littler was an avid golfer and a good one. He was a member of Seattle Golf Club and was a founding member of the Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. It was on the California golfing circuit that he met Hope and Crosby.

In 1958, Mr. Littler invited Hope and Crosby to Seattle to appear at Seafair. Hope in particular visited Seattle often and frequently golfed with Mr. Littler at Broadmoor Golf Club. In California, Mr. Littler was a yearly participant in the Bing Crosby Invitational Golf Tournament.

In addition to his Seafair activities, Mr. Littler was a former president of the Washington Athletic Club and was active in the Rainier Club. He was once general chairman of the Seattle Christmas Ship Committee.

Mr. Littler's name wasn't really Bob, but the moniker stuck during his days at Frederick & Nelson after his boss shouted at a company ball game: ``C'mon, Bob, or whatever your name is! Get a hit and you can have a job for life!''

When Mr. Littler retired, Littler Inc. merged with Hickey-Freeman, a Rochester, N.Y., clothing manufacturer and retailer, just as that company was acquired by Hart Schaffner & Marx.

In 1976, Littler Inc. moved from the White-Henry-Stuart Building, which was demolished, into the then-new Rainier Bank Tower, now owned by Security Pacific.

Besides his wife of Santa Barbara, Mr. Littler is survived by his daughter, Jean Fry of Seattle; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Children's Hospital and Medical Center or the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. A private service is planned.