FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2019
City of Renton Contact
Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
City Mourns Loss of Community Artist and Volunteer Doug Kyes
RENTON, WA -- It is with great sadness that the City of Renton acknowledges the death of long-time Renton community member Doug Kyes, who passed away on June 27.
Doug was an active member of the Renton community since the early ‘60s. He worked for Boeing, and his original artwork is in Boeing conference rooms and corporate buildings all over the world. He was very active in Renton River Days, serving as the official River Days Artist for many years. He designed the whimsical little red-haired boy and girl that became symbolic of Renton River Days for over 13 years. He also participated in many community events as an artist, including Allied Arts, and helped start the Piazza in Renton. He designed and painted the mural entitled, "The Lost Black River" that was on the Sears building downtown. Doug and his wife Sonja Kyes were also a very important part of Renton's Centennial Celebration in 2001.
“Doug Kyes’s art was at the heart of our community and has left an indelible mark on Renton,” said Mayor Denis Law. “For more than half a century, he made so many positive contributions and helped our community achieve so much. Those of us who were lucky enough to work closely with Doug know that what drove him was his passion and creativity and his love for his community. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on.”
Doug designed and coordinated the development of 25 historical markers placed throughout Renton, and he designed a special coloring book about Renton's history that was distributed to the community. Doug was involved in the Renton Farmers Market, Renton Municipal Arts Commission and Renton Rotary. He traveled with the Renton-Cuautla Sister Cities group and presented one of his paintings to the City of Cuautla when they visited Renton in 2007. Doug designed numerous engraved markers during the Renton 1901-2001 Centennial in 2001. Some of his achievements include being honored as Renton’s Citizen of the Year and receiving Renton River Days Outstanding Service Award in the award’s first inaugural award year of 1991.
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About the City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 104,100 (2018), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace and favorable business climate have attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are providing employees and their families an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, the Seattle Seahawks, and the eternal resting place of Jimi Hendrix. More information can be found on our website, news releases, or Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.
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