T. Evans Wyckoff, 73; Businessman, Civic Leader

T. Evans Wyckoff, lumber entrepreneur, apple exporter and director of the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Development, never met a challenge he didn't like.

Good preparation allowed him to be fearless in a range of endeavors, including visiting Antarctica.

Mr. Wyckoff died Sunday (Jan. 17) of Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 73.

"He was an active business leader in the state and a very strong friend and supporter when I was in public office," said former Gov. Dan Evans.

"A number of us got together in a group and every winter we'd go up on a skiing weekend. Almost to the end, he would take on the most difficult challenges, physically or economically. He ranged the whole world. This is really a loss."

Mr. Wyckoff liked to share his approach to life and business with others. He had taken his family trekking in the Himalayas, canoeing in the Northwest Territories and dog-sledding on the Arctic Circle.

He also proudly showed and taught them about the Civil War battlefields of the South, which he called his "country" of origin. He was born in Washington, D.C., and reared in Virginia.

"He just had a very `challenge-the-world' view," said his son, Paul Wyckoff of Seattle. "He loved history. . . . He'd buy books by the original explorers of a place he wanted to go, like Antarctica, then go for it. He really was in his element."

Mr. Wyckoff promoted the region's trade throughout the world. He actively supported local businesses via Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce work (he was a past president of both).

He was president of Seabord Lumber and co-owner of Johnny Appleseed Orchards - the largest single such tract in the state.

"He was an interesting guy," Evans said. "I had many conversations with him about things governmental and political, and he was a very outspoken advocate for what he believed in. He was fearless in his point of view and how he expressed it."

His son said Mr. Wyckoff "never felt like a Yankee, but was a true Southern Democrat."

Mr. Wyckoff earned a bachelor's degree in 1947 at the University of Virginia.

In 1950, he began working as a Northwest sales representative for McGraw-Hill Publishing. Later, he went into the lumber and orchard businesses, and chaired Seattle Trade Show committees.

In 1976, he was appointed by Evans to direct the state's economic development. He also was on the board of banks and nonprofit groups, notably Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Recently, he was president of Arvee Orchards (an organic agricultural firm) and Wyco, a family holding company.

He relaxed via his adventures and skiing. He spent summers on Bainbridge Island, from which he commuted by motorboat to Seattle. One trip he had more excitement than he bargained for when he was rescued after his boat caught fire off Alki Point.

Other survivors, all of Seattle, include his wife of 47 years, Ann Pigott Wyckoff; children Martha Wyckoff-Byrne, Sheila Wyckoff-Dickey, Susan Pohl, Theiline Cramer and Alison Milliman; and 21 grandchildren.

Services are at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at St. James Cathedral, Ninth Avenue and Marion Street, Seattle.

Remembrances may go to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia St., Seattle, WA 98104; the Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way S., Tukwila, WA 98168; or any other charity.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com