Looking Back’s theme for 2025 features Thurston County area photographers, artists, and their subjects. Ron Allen’s photographic career began with State Patrol, then led to his own studio; he photographed legislators, local people, and events. This humorous photo from 1969 shows legislator Hal Wolf at Ragle “Rags” Thornton’s beauty salon at the Legislative Building. We extend condolences to the family following Ron’s death in April of this year. Photograph selected and captioned by Deborah Ross on behalf of the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum, , https://olympiahistory.org.
Ron Allen photo, 1969, Susan Parish collection, Washington State Archives