| School: Grant | Graduation Year: 1955 |
Year Inducted: 2014
Sports Played: Basketball, Baseball
High School Honors: 2-year letter winner in basketball, All-PIL as a senior, captain of the team; set Grant record for points in a league season (260) and for points in a single game (39 vs/Roosevelt), season average 18.6. 2-year letter winner in baseball as a starting pitcher.
Post High School Career: Played college basketball at Portland State University, 1957; BA at the University of Portland. graduated from the FBI National Academy; 30 year career police officer; held every rank in the Portland Police Bureau except Chief. Retired as Deputy Chief.
Commentary:
As a youngster, I was blessed with some athletic skills which resulted in some grade school achievements and success in sports. Johnny Keller and Jerry Exley were my grade school and high school heroes. Witnessing their success and fan admiration resulting from athletic competition and success inspired me!
Sports taught me self-discipline, team discipline, work ethic, success emanating from commitment and effort, coping skills to manage disappointments, and recovery skills to manage losses and injuries. Sports kept me on a path of lifetime fitness.
Regarding basketball: While at Grant and two days before our first state tournament game, I tore ligaments in a knee; thus incapacitated and in a full leg cast for 12 weeks. I recovered and returned to our baseball team. I was pitching against Jefferson and re-tore ligaments in the same knee and was in a cast for another 12 weeks.
I had a “ride” to Oregon, but in those days it was conditional on ability to play. I had major knee surgery, rehab, and transferred to Portland State. I played one full year as a starter. Minor knee injuries plagued me and my college career was over.
I dropped out of school after three plus years and as a young adult finished my degree at University of Portland.