A few years after my grandfather Fred Thayer (my mom's dad) immigrated to the United States from Vancouver, Canada, he started his business, the Thayer Floor Company, located in the Ballard district of Seattle. Soon after my dad married my mom in 1935, he went to work for my grandfather and continued to do floors until he retired.
Even as I grew up with him going to work everyday in that difficult and bone-weary profession, I did not work with him and really was not much aware of his work ethic and talent. I knew what he did, I saw how heavy and cumbersome the equipment was, and I saw how the back of his panel truck looked. I was always appreciative of what he did because I knew that he was doing it for my mom, my two brothers and me.
It is funny that I didn’t find out the depth of his talent until I was 21. It was 1966, and my wife and I were newlyweds struggling to find an apartment because the rental situation was very tight at that time. As we came upon a new apartment building under construction, we saw a carpenter who happened to be the building company owner. When we asked if there were any apartments not spoken for he said yes, there was just one, and we said we would take it when it was completed. He then asked my name. I told him, “Jerry Ulsund.” I was "floored" when he asked, “Is your dad John Ulsund?” I responded yes, and he said, "He is the best floor layer in Seattle." I learned this about him and became prouder than ever for the work he did in his strenuous, technical and artistic industry.
Later I learned that in his career he also did many gymnasium floors, including the striping, in the Northwest and was in demand for refinishing floors for some of the wealthiest customers in the wealthiest neighborhoods in Seattle. He was one of the few craftsmen allowed access into the classic old homes in prestigious old neighborhoods because he became known, via word of mouth, as trusted to do a beautiful job for everything from reinstalling hardwood to sanding and finishing. Once I began to hear his story and others, my respect grew and grew for what he did throughout his working life.
Dad did not encourage me to follow him or Grandpa in the trade, but instead pushed me to get my college degree and try new and different things, which I did. I proudly talk about him to this day.
