In the early days of the city of Bothell, Washington, home to McMenamins Anderson School, an effort was made to raise funds for a new road from Bothell to Seattle. The public was encouraged to take part in a day of celebration and fundraising called “Good Roads Day.” In order to keep the peace and order of the day, three “Outstanding Citizens” were deputized for the day. They were three elderly gentlemen wearing striped overalls and carrying rifles, making a truly splendid image.

In this painting, I have chosen the central character from the tree for a slightly less noble role. Instead of his original straw hat he wears an overflowing keg of McMenamins Irish Stout which froths around his head and seems to grow out of his beard. His is still an out­stand­ing citizen as told by the text top and bottom, but instead of a “Good Roads Day,” our fine Northwest gentleman wishes us a “Good Beer Day.”

I can’t be sure the original character would have approved of my new interpretation, but I would at least hope he would have tried the stout and approved with a heartfelt “cheers.”