Biography

Bob grew up on Queen Anne Hill, a fourth generation Washingtonian and the sixth of seven children born to Betty and the late Murray Ferguson. Bob's great-grandparents homesteaded on the Skagit River, near what is now Marblemount, in the 19th century. His parents met in Everett while attending 9th grade.

Bob attended Bishop Blanchet High School, and went on to study Political Science at the University of Washington, where his classmates elected him student body president.

After graduation, Bob spent a year with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Portland, Oregon, directing an emergency services office and tutoring children in an inner-city environment. Bob continued his public service and political activity by serving as Executive Director of the King County Democrats from 1991-92.

As a law student at New York University, Bob received a public interest grant to represent Yaqui Indians in Guadalupe, Arizona. He also worked with an organization that assisted Arizona death row inmates with their legal appeals. After graduating from law school, Bob served as law clerk to Chief Judge W. Fremming Nielsen of the Federal District Court for Eastern Washington and later to Judge Myron Bright of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Back in Seattle, Bob joined Preston Gates and Ellis as a litigation associate. He gained expertise in local government by representing King County and the Port of Seattle in challenges to Tim Eyman-initiatives. He also fought against a proposal to use taxpayer dollars to cover construction cost overruns at Safeco Field. As an attorney, Bob devoted hundreds of hours to pro bono work, particularly to preserve open space in King County, working with non-profit groups such as the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation in Shoreline and Friends of Seward Park.

In his free time, Bob enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and is particularly enthusiastic about backpacking and mountain climbing. He has hiked hundreds of miles of Washington trails and reached the highest peak of 45 states, with a goal of reaching the top of all fifty states. He is also climbing the hundred highest peaks in Washington State.

Bob is a nationally and internationally-rated chess master and has twice won the Washington State Chess Championship. He has competed in international tournaments in Europe and his games and articles have been published locally, nationally, and internationally. Bob coached the Lakeside School Chess Team to three consecutive state championships. You can read an article Bob wrote about the influence of former world chess champion Bobby Fisher on Bob's life here.

Bob is an avid birder and a rabid Husky sports fan. Bob greatly enjoys his role as a new father and spending time with his large, extended family.