by Mike Matzinger
Gary Faye Locke’s life is a testament to the enduring influence of family, heritage, and early experiences in shaping leadership. His grandfather, an immigrant from China, worked as a servant in exchange for English lessons, while his father, also born in China, labored 14-hour days running a Seattle grocery store to support his family. Growing up in south Seattle’s tight-knit Chinese community, Locke was steeped in values of hard work, resilience, and service—principles that would guide him throughout his life. It was in this environment that he joined Boy Scout Troop 254, an all-Chinese troop whose leaders celebrated their Scouts’ heritage while also preparing them to thrive in the larger society. The troop instilled in Locke a sense of discipline, civic duty, and leadership that would resonate throughout his career.
Those lessons bore fruit as Locke pursued higher education, earning degrees from Yale University and the Boston University School of Law before returning to Seattle to serve ten years as a state representative, three years as county executive, and eight years as governor. As governor, he undertook ten international trade missions and helped expand Washington State’s exports to China to more than $5 billion per year, demonstrating the global perspective and organizational skill first nurtured in his scouting years. Following his tenure in state government, Locke practiced law at the international firm Davis Wright Tremaine before joining the Obama administration as commerce secretary and later serving as U.S. ambassador to China, returning to his ancestral homeland for a three-year diplomatic posting.
Throughout his life, Locke maintained a strong connection to scouting, lending his influence to the Chief Seattle Council’s Scoutreach program, which supports young people in inner-city neighborhoods similar to the one where he grew up. His involvement reflects a lifelong commitment to mentoring the next generation and ensuring that the values of leadership, cultural pride, and community service that guided him continue to reach young people from diverse backgrounds. Locke’s journey—from the son of immigrants to a statesman and ambassador—illustrates the lasting impact of scouting and community engagement on personal and professional success.