Washingtonians recall Ralph Munro’s distinctive political advertisements, which featured 30 seconds of bagpipe music followed by a brief tagline stating, “This interlude brought to you by the Munro campaign.”

As unusual and refreshing as the ads were, they worked! They spared voters from the merciless pounding dished out by politicians and their band of campaign hacks.

Munro was elected as our state’s longest-serving secretary of state in 1980 and retired after five four-year terms in 2000. While he often ran unopposed, Munro was tirelessly like the Energizer Bunny only dressed in a Scottish Kilt playing his bagpipes.

Since his death in late March, various articles have described his efforts to save the Orca, resettle Vietnamese refugees, make voting more accessible, and assist those who are less fortunate and disabled. However, there are less mentioned attributes which are as unusual as his unique ways.

For small business, Munro championed “one-stop permitting.” Our state with its high state and local sales, property, and gross receipts (business and occupation) taxes make it particularly difficult for small businesses to survive. Adding excessive permitting leads entrepreneurs to quit and close shops. The Washington Policy Center notes “the state’s business tax climate has deteriorated significantly, falling from 6th best in 2014 to 5th worst in 2025, discouraging new business creation.”

Munro believed our state needed destination resorts in scenic areas to bring convention business here. To prove his point, Munro took his video camera to Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor ski resort and filmed license plates of Washington vehicles in the parking lot. His logic was if Colorado’s Aspen and Montana’s Big Sky resorts can thrive in remote areas, Washington could do the same.

Munro never passed an opportunity to promote Washington. When the Association of Washington Business (AWB) conducted a large meeting at The Coeur d’ Alene Resort he reminded us that AWB was the “association of Washington — not Idaho — business.”

However, over the years AWB invited national groups to Suncadia, Skamania, and Semiahmoo. Many met here, but he still jokingly quipped: “You should have landed them all!”

Munro would show up when you least expected him. While in the Guard and at the Yakima Firing Center, an APC (tracked armored personnel carrier) popped over the horizon. When it stopped and dropped its gate, Ralph Munro walked out. It was scorching hot on a barren hill encased in clouds of dust. When asked why? Munro quipped: “I wanted to see what you did and where!”

Then came the activation of the National Guard for Desert Storm in 1990-91. It marked the start of ongoing reserve call-ups. Not only were active-duty units from Washington bases deployed, but they also were accompanied by Guard units mobilized from various states. Of the 650,000 military personnel involved in combat, 75,000 were from the Guard.

Munro and Gov. Mike Lowry understood the significance of the change and came to see the troops off and welcome them home. There were no press briefings, media statements, speeches, social media postings, videos, stages, or photos. These were emotional family one-on-one events.

“Whether it was 2 a.m. or 2 p.m., they (troops) and their families needed to know we cared!” both unscripted.

Ralph Munro established the template for the Office of Secretary of State. No one worked harder or was more resolute. For him, Washingtonians were not Republicans or Democrats, they were people — our citizens.

Considering he was often the only Republican state office holder, and, at times, Democrats controlled both legislative chambers, he worked for the common interest without personalizing differences.

Ralph Munro kept his dignity, sense of humor and convictions. He served us well! Hopefully, our elected officials today can emulate his style and follow in the ‘Piper’s footsteps!

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Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He is a former president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. Contact thebrunells@msn.com.