| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 1962 |
Year Inducted: 2017
Sports Played: Football, Wrestling
High School Honors: 2-year Football letterman. PIL Championships as a Junior and Senior. 1st Team All-PIL and All-State lineman as a Senior. Shrine Team All-Star.
2-year Wrestling letterman. Undefeated at 178 lbs. as a Senior before a shoulder injury ended his season.
Post High School Career: Football letterman at Columbia Basin Junior College and Pacific University before graduating from New Mexico State University. On Minnesota Viking Taxi Squad, 1 year. Employment Recruiter for Crown Zellerbach. Manager in the Civil Rights Division of the State of Oregon Bureau of Labor. Investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice in New York and Washington, D.C. Education Administrator for Albina Youth Opportunity School. Retired as Executive Director of the Tacoma, Washington Human Rights Commission. Served on several boards, coached youth Football and Baseball.
Commentary:
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
As a firm foundation supports a structure, athletics was the foundation upon which my values and character were built. My family taught me that work, knowledge and learning to read, calculate and write were skills important to survive. Athletics taught me to rise above circumstances of poverty and lack of vision, to excel in social interaction, teamwork, and vocational aspirations.
Through football, and wrestling, I learned valuable skills and attributes. I learned to be prepared, that I must be able to problem solve, make decisions, must be of good character, must be determined, must work well with others, and must take criticism as well as praise with grace; to be a man of integrity.
The lessons garnered from athletics were instilled in me by coaches and team members, especially Ancer Haggerty, Tom DeSylvia and Dennis Posensky to name a few. These individuals took time to mentor, encourage and challenge me to do my best; to have confidence, to broaden my view of the world, to let go of the fears and prejudices of my southern upbringing.
As a parent I have been able to instill in my children the values taught to me by my parents and the athletic community of which I am a member. My three children are productive, contributing members of society. My youngest son is Vice President of the NFL.