She’s not from Navy, she is Navy

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, January 19, 2006

One might think a Navy League president would have swabbed a few decks in her day, but Kathy Gambill never shipped out in denim dungarees.

“I have no clue about the Navy,” Gambill said. “I have no connection.”

Nevertheless, she moves mountains to support sailors. When Gambill takes on a cause, it’s all hands on deck. In her job in business development for Costco, she connects with businesses and works to get those businesses anchored with Naval Station Everett.

Kathy Gambill, president of Everett’s Navy League, at the helm of the USS Abraham Lincoln at Naval Station Everett.

She was a shoo-in in December to take over the helm of the Navy League of the U.S. Everett Council.

After her first work on the base, promoting a reception for a ship’s homecoming, she fell in love with the men and women who serve our country. She now has companies vying to line up on the dock to promote their wares when even the smallest of ships returns to town.

“I’ve met the most unbelievable people,” she said. “I am so impressed with everyone.”

The civilian Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902, according to its Web site. It’s dedicated to the education of the public, including elected officials, and supporting those in sea services and their families.

You need not have served in the military to be a member. Gambill has been doing the work without a title. Before Thanksgiving, she helped organize dinners for 200 Navy families. She worked with the Navy chaplain’s office, and found those willing to make her idea a reality.

Donations rolled in from businesses in the greater Seattle area.

She put on a health and wellness fair on the base. In the summer, Gambill was the driving force behind a donation of goods for Iraq. She organized an opening night promotion for the Everett Hawks indoor football team, and military people delivered an array of balls to children in Iraq, Gambill said.

“I feel humbled,” she said. “We have to win the hearts and minds of the next generation.”

Gambill knows about winning wars. She is a five-year cancer survivor. The mother of four, who went to Cascade High School and owned her own business, Kreative Promotions, before she got sick.

“I’m a jack-of-all-trades,” she said. “I’m always out of the box.”

Working for Costco, she persevered to find Navy contacts. The past three years, she has formed partnerships all around the area, and seems to know every shopkeeper in Everett.

“I connect business to business,” Gambill said. “I put together programs where everybody wins. When I see a need, I think, ‘What are the possibilities?’”

She described herself as a hand-raiser when something needs to be done.

Seeing her lovely Everett home and yard, I asked if she works around the clock to maintain it. She said she is the queen of Miracle Grow.

She and husband of 19 years, Bob, host neighborhood parties.

Throughout her life, she’s been a participant, not a good spectator.

“I’m passionate,” she said. “I can’t help it.”

As a child, she cleaned stalls seven days a week to earn a one-hour Saturday horseback ride. She went on to train Arabian horses.

Her chores range from organizing a sailor of the year banquet to finding a Slurpee machine for a ship’s galley. She carries a goody bag on base and hands out taco coupons and movie tickets.

A hug comes with each slip of paper.

Lt. Cmdr. John Daniels of the Navy’s Northwest Regional Public Affairs Office said Gambill helped get gift packages for single sailors.

“Navy League in Everett always does a good job,” Daniels said. “We appreciate it.”

Amrita Candela-Beal of Naval Station Everett said Gambill works diligently with heartfelt enthusiasm.

Anything she can do in a positive way for soldiers, sailors and Marines is satisfying to Gambill.

“I don’t care where you stand politically,” Gambill said. “I don’t care if you are red, white or blue, we need to take care of our kids.”

And the doting grandmother finally got a personal connection to her cause.

Her 6-foot 5-inch grandson, Cory DeYoung, 20, recently joined the Navy.

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com.