1954 after suffering a small stroke. Over the course of his career, Sayre worked as a theatrical critic and editor for several of the local newspapers and magazines and is known to have handled publicity and advertising for a variety of Seattle theaters including the Grand Opera House, Seattle Theatre, Lyceum, Palm Garden, Second Avenue Orpheum, Star, Alhambra, Majestic, Mission, Liberty, 5th Avenue Theatre, Coliseum, Rex, Strand, Pantages, Blue Mouse, and Music Box Theatres. On several occasions, Sayre’s role as an arts promoter and theatrical critic became blurred. For example, while he was the manager of the Seattle Symphony he was also writing for various Seattle newspapers and reviewing Symphony performances. This apparent conflict of interest was not controversial at the time. Sayre compiled a vast collection of publicity photographs from theatrical performers, dramatic companies, musicians, and traveling shows that played in Seattle as well as theater and musical programs. This collection is housed at the University of Washington Libraries Special Collection Division. Notable accomplishments Early in Sayre's journalistic career, he set out to recreate the journey of Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg. Willis Sayre accomplished the feat of circumnavigating the globe in 54 days, 9 hours and 42 minutes, which was a record-breaking journey particularly considering his self-imposed limitation of using only public transport. Fortunately, he did have the benefit of the newly opened Trans-Siberian Railway. His objective was to travel as any citizen would, without special or chartered transportation. In fact, he turned down an opportunity to ride a chartered train funded by friends and local supporters in St. Paul, Minnesota that would have taken him directly to Seattle and instead traveled the Northern Pacific route out of Chicago, which cost him several hours. He was known to be openly critical of other travelers who broke his record but who made the trip without this limitation. Sayre wrote in the Post-Intelligencer, "It seemed obvious to me that . . . a trip around the world became merely a question of who had the most money to spend on it." His return to Seattle was met with a hero's welcome, and he reflected on his experience and the mistakes he made while traveling in the evening news. Works Sayre, J. Willis, The Romance of Second Avenue, Seattle: J. Willis Sayre, 1933. Sayre, J. Willis, This City of Ours, Seattle: Seattle School District No.1, 1936. Sayre, J. Willis, Some Historical Spots