Ken and Judy Thomas have spent much of their lives working to make medical care better for others.

Their professional lives have been focused on medical equipment and laboratory work. And their private lives have included growing support of the cancer-research advances at the Hutchinson Center.

Until they retired, Ken was an inventor and manufacturer of medical equipment, including ventilators, scales and incubators. Judy worked in laboratory development for many years. Their son, Ken, has been involved in the medical computer industry.

In 1997, Ken and Judy became intrigued by the groundbreaking research being done at the Hutchinson Center. They started supporting the center with annual gifts. As they learned more about the center, their support grew to include attending the Hutch Holiday Gala and making courtyard-brick donations to honor family members.

Last year, they decided to include the Hutchinson Center in their will, which will leave a bequest to the center for research activities.

"We feel fortunate to have a premier research institution available in our Seattle area," they said. "Seeing friends, family and others close to us struggle with cancer, we appreciate how the center has helped them by furthering research in this area."

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