| School: Roosevelt | Graduation Year: 1967 |
Sports Played: Football, Basketball, Baseball
Year Inducted: 2023
High School Honors: 2 Football letters. Starting quarterback and defensive back as Senior on the Football team, as well as kicker and kick returner. Honorable Mention All-PIL as Senior.
1 Basketball letter.
2 Baseball letters. On PIL Championship Baseball Team as a Junior; Top 10 in PIL batting until a broken wrist ended his season.
Received Hal York Perpetual Trophy for Football MVP and Best All-Around Athlete Trophy for Senior year.
Post High School Career: 2 Baseball letters at Clark Junior College, won JC Baseball State Championship in 1968. Inducted into Clark JC Hall of Fame. 2 Baseball letters at University of Portland, 1971-1972; Bachelor’s degree, 1973; Master’s degree, 1989. MVP in Baseball and set school record .966 fielding pct. as a Senior third baseman. As a pitcher, had 2.4 and 2.11 earned-run-averages as a Junior and Senior. Coached Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball teams for 26 years and Pop Warner Football and Girls’ Softball and Soccer. Worked in the Trucking Industry for 32 years at Freightliner Corp. until retirement as Director of Purchasing.
Commentary:
I would like to start by saying that I have had a very Blessed life!
I have a lot of people that have helped me through the years that I would like to thank
First my family. I met my wife in high school and she has supported me for over 50 years and continues. Always there and always cheering me on. Sports has been a very important factor with our children and grandchildren as well. Not only have I enjoyed coaching almost all of them, the instilled teamwork and camaraderie continues in all aspects in our lives. THANK YOU
I can’t remember all of my coach’s names, as I started playing organized sports more than 65 years ago. However, I remember their dedication, their kindness and the time they took, as volunteers (prior to high school), to teach me and others the intricacies of all of the difference sports. I would like to THANK THEM! I know now what they gave to us
Also, a thanks to very gracious people like Mr. Jim Wakefield, who worked for Wilson Sporting Goods. He made sure that starting out in little league the less fortunate were provided with new baseball mitts and other necessary equipment
I believe that sports kept me focused and kept me out of trouble. Sports, in general, is very valuable in building life skills. Team sport programs can help build character, instill hard work ethics, how to get along with others, build lifelong relationships and how to strive to win and lose graciously together as a team
However, I particularly want to express thank Stan Bozich, Roosevelt HS baseball coach, Vern Kindsfather, Clark JR College Baseball coach and Joe Etzel. U of Portland baseball coach. These coaches really provided me with opportunities, inspiration and guidance. In return all they asked of me was that I give my best effort
I have coached as a volunteer for over 26 years. My main focus has always been to teach children and young adults about skills and the results of doing their very best, and just as importantly, to HAVE FUN
Baseball, in particular, provided me the platform along with scholarships to earn a college degree
THANK YOU!