| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 1978 |
Year Inducted: 2020
Sports Played: Football, Wrestling, Track and Field
Featured Member of the Month ~ January 2024
High School Honors: 3 Letters each in Football, Wrestling, and Track. 1st Team All-PIL offense (guard) & defense (linebacker) as a Senior; PIL HM as a Sophomore & Junior. On 1978 PIL Championship team, Shrine All-Star team and Team Captain as a Senior. In Wrestling, recorded the fastest pin in Jefferson, PIL and State history at 6 seconds as a Senior. (Now the 5th fastest in State history). Team Captain as a Senior. Competed in Shot, Javelin, Discus. Team Captain and Howard Cherry Award winner as a Senior. Student Body Vice President; Graduation Speaker. Representative to the Portland Youth Advisory Council.
Post High School Career: Football and Track at Mt. Hood CC 1 year; Football at Walla Walla CC, 1 year Conference champs. AA degree Portland CC Portland State University; Eastern Oregon University. Played 10 seasons of Northwest minor league football. Co-head Track coach at Jefferson, 1980; Asst. Coach men’s basketball at Wilson 1996-97. Youth football head coach. Member Screen Actors Guild, Hollywood stuntman and Executive Transportation Specialist for Hollywood celebrities the past 32 years. NE YMCA volunteer 20 years; Habitat for Humanity volunteer 7 years.
Commentary:
I’m humbled by this very prestigious honor. Thank you to everyone involved in my selection.
All of the glory I give to God.
I would like to thank my parents Dr. Lt. Col. Ernest L Sanders and my mother Mrs. Audrey L Sanders. They provided me with the genetics, a very nurturing and structured home environment.
Education first and athletics second.
Thank you to all of my teammates and coaches. A special thank you to coach Weinstein who believed in me from day one.
I showed up everyday to do and be the best that I could be. I was alive in the moment, living for just that. In the classroom and on the field. If you do the work, with the proper attitude and keep doing the work, it will speak for itself.
I’m a very strong proponent of athletics. Athletics teach and prepare you for the real world.
You learn to function as a team, to put the teams goals above yours; how to fight through and overcome adversity and how to celebrate your victories. You also learn faith in a higher power, faith in your teammates and faith in yourself. You learn to stand on your faith.
Faith is the substance things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Many blessings to all.