Washington judge, politician Thomas Swayze dies

TACOMA -- Former Republican state House Speaker Thomas Swayze Jr. has died after a yearlong battle with leukemia.

Swayze, who was a longtime Pierce County Superior Court judge after retiring from partisan politics, died Sunday at 74.

Swayze took over his mother Frances Swayze's 26th District House seat in 1965 and was speaker in 1971 and 1972. He was known for his debating skills, integrity and his evenhanded use of the speaker's gavel.

"He was a Republican and I was a Democrat, but I always respected him," said former state Sen. Lorraine Wojahn, D-Tacoma, who called Swayze one of the best speakers in state history.

Swayze returned to his law practice in 1973 and joined the Pierce County bench two years later, serving until 1996.

State Chief Justice Gerry Alexander said Tuesday that Swayze was a giant in the state judiciary, helping to bolster the courts' reputation with the public and their standing with the Legislature. His reform ideas greatly helped improve administration of the judiciary, he said.