One of Anacortes’ biggest ambassadors was eager to give a history lesson.

Wallie Funk, former co-owner and publisher of the Whidbey News-Times, was so eager, in fact, that he recently authored a book about the city where he was born in 1922 and still calls home.

The book, “Pictures of the Past,” is filled with images of Anacortes’ 125-year history and is penned by Funk derived from columns he wrote in the Anacortes American about the city’s past from 1994-2001.

Funk was editor and co-publisher of the Anacortes newspaper from 1950-64 before he went on to serve the same role at the News-Times and South Whidbey Record until 1989.

Now age 93, Funk coordinated efforts with Elaine Walker from the Anacortes Museum to produce a coffee table-style book that makes him perk up.

“I am so proud of it — the content of it,” he said.

“I don’t give a damn if you like it or don’t,” he continued with a laugh. “It’s an interesting book, historically.”

Funk exudes Anacortes history. His grandfather moved to the city in 1889, and Funk’s dad was born there in 1892.

“I had some unique people around me who were the history,” Funk said. “Now, almost all of them are gone, but boy they left me with some marvelous directions … and part of that book is part of them.”

Aside from being co-publisher with business partner John Webber, Funk also was a strong advocate of causes in the communities he served.

He was instrumental in Anacortes’ selection as an All-America city in 1961, according to Walker.

“That was largely because of Wallie,” she said. “He nominated the city, put in the paperwork and went and made the presentation.”

Funks’ gift for gab and editorials also aided fundraising efforts to secure community theater venues in both Anacortes and Oak Harbor.

Most of the images in “Pictures of the Past” were collected or photographed by Funk, a noted photojournalist in his newspaper days.

Funk began collecting historic photos of Anacortes in 1950, soliciting help from the community in his first editorial. The photos, known as the Wallie Funk Collection, also included thousands of negatives he saved from a trip to the dump taken by retiring photographer Ferd Brady. The photo collection later led to the establishment of the Anacortes Museum.

The book release was held in conjunction with the Anacortes American’s 125-year anniversary celebration in May, attended by Funk.

About 400 of the 1,100 books that were published remain and are for sale for $27 at the Anacortes Museum.

The museum, located at 1305 8th St., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.