Vern Marshall, Jr.

Vern Marshall, Jr.Vern Marshall, Jr.

Vern Marshall, Jr.
School: Benson Graduation Year: 1976

Year Inducted: 2016

Sports Played: Football, Basketball, Baseball

Featured Member of the Month ~ June 2023

High School Honors: 3-year Football Letterman, PIL 1st Team Senior Defensive Back; PIL Champions, Senior.
3-year Basketball Letterman. PIL Champions Sophomore, Junior; State Champions, Sophomore.
3-year Baseball Letterman, PIL 2nd Team Senior, Outfielder; PIL and State Champions, Senior; team leader in doubles and stolen bases. MAC Scholar Athlete Award, Sophomore. Student Body President.

Post High School Career: Portland State University, Bachelor and Masters degrees. 31 years in Portland Public Schools, 5 as PE Instructor and 26 as Assistant Principal in three middle schools. Officiated High School and College Football and Basketball games; 2001 NFL replacement official. Benson Hall
of Fame, 2014. Current High School Football official, Phoenix, Arizona.

Commentary:

I was very fortunate to have so many encouraging adult role models like outstanding varsity coaches Mike Lopez (Football), Dick Gray (Basketball) and Bill Ranta (Baseball) and great assistant coaches Vern Melvin, Stu McNeil, Floyd Simmons, Wes Burch, Bob Wilson and Hugh Pennington. They treated the athletic fields and courts as a reflection and extension of the classroom. I learned life lessons regarding leadership, communication skills, putting the team above individuals and dealing with negative situations in a positive way.

I’m deeply grateful for my parents who taught me “perseverance is success in disguise…if you work hard enough and long enough, good things will happen.” Also for my teachers and administrators at Benson for guidance and direction and my teammates for your commitment and dedication. Special thanks to my family, relatives and friends for your love and support.

The best part of sports, in my opinion, are the many people you meet and compete with establishing lifelong relationships. A great example? My wife Gay who attended Monroe High School. Best win for me in the most important game of all, the game of life! The kick-offs, jump balls, hits and runs, will all come and go; but the memories last a lifetime.

One of my favorite quotes is from the late, great, Jackie Robinson: “A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives.” My life has been impacted by so many amazing individuals at Benson High School and the Portland Public Schools and for this I’m extremely blessed and grateful.

More Inductees from this School:

Photo of John Goode

John GoodeJohn Goode

Benson ~ 1951 ~ Swimming three-year letter winner; Held PIL and State Meet records in 50 and 100-yard Freestyle events and 100-yard Backstroke; Earned High School All-American honors in

Photo of Willie Bell

Willie BellWillie Bell

Benson ~ 1965 ~ 2 Letters in Football, Honorable Mention All-PIL. 2 Letters in Wrestling. 3 Letters in Track & Field; PIL champion in 100 and 200-yard dashes