Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Update - January 2011
http://www.wilsonalumni.com

Don't miss your upcoming reunion and special in-between-year get togethers- make sure to check the reunion section below.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR WILSON GRADUATES WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
We have created a new WWHS Military Alumni page on our website.  We are creating an archive to honor our Military Graduates.  To add your name and information to the page,

Send your information to Linda Doyle at LSDOYLE@EARTHLINK.NET.

Name:
Year graduated from Wilson:
Military branch:
Years of service:
Service description:
Photo (optional):
Do you give permission to post this information on our website (required):

WILSON FOUNDATION WORKS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
The Wilson Foundation has set a goal to raise $100,000 this year to retain science and math teaching positions and keep class sizes down throughout the curriculum. We are hoping for 100% participation by Wilson families and alumni can help maintain excellence at Wilson by making contributions to the Wilson Foundation. Thanks for supporting our teachers and students. For more information, please contact Wilson alum Lucy Brehm'77 or Chris Dearth at: wilsonhsfoundation@gmail.com.  Please make your tax deductible donation online today at: www.wilsonhsfoundation.org.

WILSON HOSTS DANCE TEAM COMPETITION, February 19, 2011
Volunteers needed to assist with competition (no dance experience necessary)
AND
Looking for alumni dance team members to perform alumni dance at competition

Interested, contact Coach Errin at bstamv@yahoo.com

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

REMEMBERING WAYNE TWITCHELL '66 BASEBALL MAJOR LEAGUER, OREGON HALL OF FAMER
We lost Wayne Twitchell '66 who passed away from cancer on September 16, 2010. He was a big-league pitcher, storyteller, mentor, Major leaguer, and Oregon Hall of Famer from Wilson High. Wayne was 62. There was a Memorial Service on Saturday, September 25 in the Multnomah Presbyterian Church. Wayne is survived by his wife Barbara and sons and Wilson graduates, Patrick '98 and Matthew '94. Mike Clopton, Wilson baseball coach was quoted in an article by Aaron Frentress as saying that Wayne Twitchell "was a great story teller. Very quiet and unassuming for a guy that had achieved what most kids wanted to. Giving instead of taking. He made the game real simple so the kids would understand it. He was very calming for the pitchers."  As Dwight Jaynes posted in his blog, "We lost a great one last week".  Click here to read more about this former star pitcher for Wilson High: Portland Tribune by Stephen Alexander; The Oregonian by Aaron Frentress.

ALBERT MENASHE '67 RECEIVES OREGON STATE BAR AWARD
On December 2, 2010 the Oregon Bench and Bar Commission on Professionalism presented the Edwin J. Peterson Award to Albert Menashe '67. This award was named for Edwin Peterson, the 39th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1983 to 1991.  Click here to read more about Albert's life since Wilson.

WILSON AND JACKSON GRADUATES INDUCTED TO PIL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
As reported by Steve Brandon from The Portland Tribune, four Wilson graduates and one Jackson graduate were recently inducted to the PIL Hall of Fame on October 17, 2010. Journalist and sports commentator Dwight Jaynes was the master of ceremonies. The Class of 2010 was chosen by committees representing each PIL school’s athletic history. Congratulations!

Jackson
Creslyn (Drumm) King, 1975, gymnastics (two-time PIL floor exercise champion, state champ; PIL side horse vault champion, all-round champion). Second in floor exercise and fifth in vault at national collegiate championships.

Wilson
Scott Peterson, 1976, football, basketball (second-team all-PIL), baseball (two-time all-PIL, all-Metro and all-state, four years on Watco Electric American Legion team, won three state Legion titles and played in 1973 Legion World Series). Drafted by Texas Rangers. Two-time Western Carolinas League all-star.

Wendy Peterson, 1978, volleyball (all-PIL, second-team all-state), basketball (twice all-PIL and second-team all-state), softball, also played on freshman baseball team. Scholarship basketball player for Portland State.

Joan (Edwards) Powell, 1962, golf (state champion in 1960). Member of Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame.

Jack Hewitt, 1983, football (all-PIL, all-Metro, third-team all-state), wrestling (two-time PIL champion), track and field (PIL pole-vault champion). Sadly, Jack passed away on August 20, 2009.

WILSON LOSES LEADING DISABILITY SCHOLAR AND ACTIVITST
Dr. Paul Longmore, 64, a leading disability scholar and activist who taught at San Francisco State died of natural causes on August 9, 2010. Paul attended Wilson from 1960 to 1963 (and was heading to graduate with his class of 1964 but left after his junior year when his family moved to Southern California in the spring of 1963.) Paul's sister Ellen Longmore Brown lives in Ohio and attended WWHS for her freshman year 1963.  Click here to read more about Paul's life and how you can help support his disability-related work.

2005 WILSON GRAD NAMED PRESTIGIOUS MARSHALL SCHOLAR
Jacob White, a 2005 Wilson graduate and a 2009 Northwestern University graduate known for his robust intellectualism and strong humanitarian impulses, has been named a Marshall Scholar and soon will head off to the University of Oxford to do graduate work in development studies. Among the most sought after honors for undergraduates, Marshall Scholarships provide students with at least two fully funded years of study at universities in the United Kingdom.  Click here to read all about Jacob.

GRADUATE REMEMBERS ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTIVE WILSON TEACHERS
Lindsey Holcomb (Matsuo) '01 attended the University of Oregon after Wilson and pursued majors in Asian Studies, Violin Performance, Japanese and International Business with a finance minor. She also had the chance to study abroad for a year in Tokyo at Waseda University. Currently, Lindsey works for an educational technology consulting firm in Portland, which works with schools in every state and 90 countries. They primarily support curriculum planning and best practices. Lindsey is a financial analyst with the company, "a career I, and probably all of my HS math teachers, would never have predicted!" states Lindsey. She also supports her company with Japanese translation, HR, Operations and training. When asked about teachers at Wilson, Lindsey adds that she will never forget global studies with Joan Kvitka, US History with Pat Murphy, or Orchestra with Marc Wolters. "Each of these teachers were so supportive and creative and tirelessly encouraging!" She also urges the current students at Wilson to be proactive and ask questions! "If you think you may be interested in a particular subject, major, college or career, there are countless people out there who would delight in guiding you. You just have to take the first step and reach out."

FIRST NOVEL CREATES A STORY THAT THE READER HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE
Wilson's Class of 1964 John Pattillo's first novel, Sovereign, in three parts, introduces characters and events unlike any you have ever encountered. It is available on Amazon.com.  John believes that it is an author's job to create a story that the reader has never seen before.  Click here to read more about John.

WILSON GRADS UPDATE
For two recent Wilson graduates, hard work paves the road for a bright future. Rachel Drushella '05 graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Health Promotion and is currently working at Oregon Health & Sciences University in their health promotion department. Nick Drushella '08 is a junior at the University of Oregon and is packing his bags for a study abroad program starting in January for six months in Spain. Congratulations to Rachel and Nick and their parents, Denice and Scott Drushella.

WILSON GRAD VOLUNTEERS ON THE BAYOU
Evan Ponder ’06 has seen first hand the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. He was only 17 at the time but has since volunteered in New Orleans six times over the last four years. Now, Evan is 23 and is back in Louisiana. According to Nate Monroe from the dailycomet.com, Evan will lead an environmental outreach program through the Young Adult Volunteer Program run by the national Presbyterian Church to demonstrate the importance of coastal restoration. Click here to read more about Evan and his work.

WILSON GRAD FILM SELECTED FOR ONE DAY ON EARTH GLOBAL DOCUMENTARY
A film created by David Keller '07 was recently selected to be part of One Day on Earth, where documentary filmmakers, students, and inspired citizens world-wide recorded the human experience over a 24-hour period on 10-10-10. One Day on Earth was founded in 2008 to create an online community, and a shared film archive, showcasing the amazing diversity, conflict, tragedy and triumph that occur in one day on earth. David's video footage was selected to represent Portland, Oregon and takes you on a visual tour of Portland. David is a semi-professional cinematographer working as a director, director of photography, camera operator, and/or editor on videos in the Portland area. He has worked on music videos, promotional videos, skateboard videos, commercials, live events, short films, documentaries, and more. David says that he has, "worked on all sorts of projects ranging from a promotional video for the wooden design company Sticks & Stones Accessories, to the One Day on Earth global documentary." To see more of his work, click on these links: David Keller's "Portland, Oregon": http://vimeo.com/16553892; David Keller's work: vimeo.com/thedavidkeller; and One Day on Earth: http://www.onedayonearth.org/. Congratulations to David and his very proud mother, Rosanne Keller!

WILSON GRADUATE ENJOYS UNRIVALED LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Joan Edwards-Powell '62 knows a little something about hard work on and off the golf course. She is a retired teacher and is one of Oregon's great amateur golfers, winning more Pacific Northwest championships than any man or woman. Joan started playing golf in 1959 at the age of 14 and won her flight in the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Girls' event. While playing for the golf team at Wilson, Joan was the Oregon state high school golf champion in 1960.  Click here to read more about Joan.

SOIL SCIENTIST DIGS HER DIRTY JOB
After Wilson, Diane Stott '72 attended college at Oregon State (B.S. & M.S. in Microbiology). In 1978 she moved to Riverside, CA where she completed a Ph.D. in Soil Science at the University of California, Riverside. Diane then moved to Ames Iowa (Iowa State University) in March 1982 for a postdoctoral academic position, then joined a USDA-ARS (US Dept. of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service) at Pullman, WA (Washington State University). In January 1985, Diane joined the scientific staff of the USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory (NSERL) in West Lafayette, Indiana (home of Purdue University). She is a senior scientist with the NSERL and is an adjunct professor of soil science with the Dept of Agronomy, Purdue University. Diane says she has been fortunate to be in a profession that she enjoys and that has allowed her to work on projects across the country and internationally. Click here to read more about Diane.

SHARE YOUR STORY
Send us the details on where/what you have been doing since graduating from Wilson, and we'll post in an upcoming WWHS Alumni Update e-newsletter.  Send details to Linda Doyle.

WILSON'S PAST

TEACHER TRIBUTES
Wilson High School had a lot of fine teachers during the time I was there, from 1990-1993. A few stand out for me, and I'll always hold their teaching ability in the highest regard. Mr. Scott McDermet - a fine and devoted math teacher. For my first three years at Wilson, I had some other math teachers who were okay, but Mr. McDermet ensured that students learned the material well.  I went into college (Oregon State University, '98) well prepared in math thanks to him.  He was always at school and in his classroom before 7:00 am, helping students in all of the courses he taught, which included Precalc and Algebra 2 and Geometry. Mr. Edward Basaraba was without equal as both an English and Latin teacher. He knew it all when it came to both subjects - his classes weren't for the chickenhearted and you had to work hard if you wanted a good grade. He was definitely one of the finest high school teachers in Portland for many years. We were lucky to have him just before he retired. Mr. Marc Wolters - orchestra and band conductor. Mr. Wolters was (and still is) a fine musician and he got the very best out of our orchestra. We won the OSSHE State Championship in 1990, and placed 2nd for a couple years after. Mr. Nick Hanches - US History and Political Science - was an outstanding teacher and human being. I learned better and more efficient ways of learning thanks to him. He was always willing to meet before class or during the day to discuss class material. Students respected him immensely; his lectures were never boring.  You could talk to him about things ongoing in your personal life too. And finally, Ms. Lynne Soto-Seelig. I had her for English for two years. Her red pen was everpresent on most of my papers, and the grades I got on them sometimes weren't high. But I'm indebted to her for teaching me the importance and value of good writing and written communication.  Andrew Ramage '93

WHERE ARE THE TEACHERS NOW!
Many students remember their teachers at Wilson and would like to know "where are they now?"  If you have any information to share about the teachers in the above teacher tributes, please send to Linda Doyle and it will be posted in the next alumni e-newsletter.

ICE CREAM WAS SCOOPED AT BANK SITE IN HILLSDALE
Story by Valeurie Friedman

Pete Petterson's 1955 Buick, the family's first car, dates this photo of the parlor.
Before Baskin Robbins...

Before there was a Baskin-Robbins, Hillsdale ice cream lovers satisfied their craving at The Bank of America. Well, not quite. Make that the site of the current Hillsdale Bank of America. That's where Petterson's Ice Cream Store was. Pete Petterson opened his first store on Capitol Highway in Multnomah 61 years ago, in 1949. In 1954 he moved the shop to the more central location in Hillsdale.

Elm "Pete" Petterson (not to be confused with his brother Waldo "Pete" Petterson, who also lived in the neighborhood) came to the ice cream business after a career in the dairy industry. He made all his own ice cream, later adding homemade candy and burgers to his menu. Ice cream cakes and whipped-cream decorated pies were house specialties.

The Ice cream flavors of any given day were posted on cardboard slide-ins slats, usually 24 at a time. More than 100 flavors slid on and off the board. In the early days a gallon of ice cream cost $1.39. Pete's son, Carl, remembers it all vividly. He and his three siblings had access to all the ice cream they wanted. Carl grew up in Bridlemile, later settling in Hillsdale with his family. He now lives in Multnomah Village. Carl remembers special recipes: pumpkin ice cream in the fall, spumoni at Christmas, and huckleberry in summer. "Indians packed huckleberries out of the forest and sold them to wholesalers," he recalls. Business was good in the summertime, but slow in the winter. "One winter day," recalls Carl, "Dad came home to report that only one customer had come in." Equipment loan payments were doubled in the warmer months to make up for the lack of sales during the weather. Power outages were another winter hazard. When the electricity went out during a storm, the Pettersons would rush to the store with quilts and blankets to trap the cold in the freezers. Alice Petterson, Carl's mom, worked in the store with Pete, but the ice cream business didn't bring in enough to send four kids to college. She got her master's degree from Lewis & Clark College and became a teacher at Robert Gray Elementary School until she retired in 1976.

In 1965, after years of 70-hour to 80-hour work weeks and the strain and injuries from lifting heavy milk cans, Pete sold the store to new owners. It closed about four years later. Pete died in 2006; Alice is still alive and well.

MESSAGES FROM CLASSMATES

SHORT BUT MEMORABLE TIME AT WILSON
I was only at Wilson one year (1968-69) but there were a few who made my transition from back country hood to relatively normal human a success and I would love to hear from you. Steve Amen '69 [samen@opb.org]

LOOKING FOR DOUG HAWKINS '73
Friends of Doug Hawkins, class of '73, are trying to reach him with a personal message. If anyone can contact him, would you ask him to email Rebecca Webb, rwebbontheweb@gmail.com? Thanks!

GRAD CATCHES UP WITH FRIENDS AND VISITS WILSON AFTER MANY YEARS
Class of 1962 Wilson alum, Thea Bernstein, had an extraordinary, nostalgic trip down memory lane recently while back in Portland.  She first met up with '60 alum, Clyde Gideon on the Wilson campus to find the front doors unlocked so they had to explore their past. "Opening that door was eerie with empty halls smelling of polished linoleum floors, everything looked the same as when we left so many years ago," adds Thea. Most of the classroom doors were locked, but they were able to visit the library and back-stage where Thea stood & remembered all the drama productions she was part of in school. Thea said the temptation to slide down the double stair banisters was quelled with the realization we could actually end up spraining something!  A few days later was an informal Class of 1962 get together on August 22 at McMenamin's Brewery & Public House in Hillsdale. Thea attended, "shaking knees and all) and it was so much fun to see several faces I still knew! Since I've not attended any prior reunions (never notified), this was my first and now I won't be so nervous to go to the 50th. That number sticks in my throat, but what a wonderful experience to see everyone again." Thea remarks that "there seems to be a camaraderie that exists with the alumni of the class of '60 (the first to attend all 4 years of brand-new Wilson High) and ours, the class of '62."

LOOKING FOR 1982 CLASSMATES
Looking for classmates for future reunions. Brenda Dascomb (Hanson) '82.   Click here to contact her.

MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1964 GET TOGETHER FOR CASUAL LUNCH
Several members of the Class of 1964 recently got together for a casual lunch at Dick's Kitchen in Portland. "What fun we had...so glad these guys showed up," adds Jeannie Thompson '64.

From Left...Jim Newman, Murray Magness, David Driscoll, John Ohman, Jeannie Thompson,
Tom Talbot, Bob Sievertsen, Gary Norbraten, John Earls.

CANCER BENEFIT CONCERT TO AID LOCAL VETERAN MUSICIAN, DAN GOLDEN '75
A special fund raising benefit concert is being held to aid long time veteran local musician and entertainer Dan "The Hofner Guy" Golden in dealing with an onslaught of medical bills acquired during his recent battle with cancer. The internationally recognized bass player/ vocalist for bands including THE SINNERS CLUB and tribute act the ROLLING TONES, has been dubbed by the press as "The nicest guy in Rock n' Roll", and has helped hundreds of budding players pursue their vision to join the music business. Golden and the crew of THE SINNERS CLUB also recently released their first original CD single, the hilarious "I LIKE 'EM YOUNG". The benefit event, to be held SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 2011 at IRVING'S @ HOLIDAY INN SOUTH 25425 SW 95th Avenue Wilsonville, OR 97070, will start at 5pm and feature a line-up of top flight acts throughout the evening. The schedule already includes blues acts Kevin Selfe, Eddie Martinez, "Julian's Ride ", John Thayer - brother of Tommy Thayer of KISS, the fabulous ROLLING TONES, and headlined by Golden's band THE SINNERS CLUB, then culminating in an all-star jam session. Guest appearances by other area celebrities are also to be announced. Admission is a suggested donation of $10, with proceeds and other donations targeted to assisting Golden with his medical expenses for cancer care. Please lend a helping hand to one of the area's most generous personalities in his time of need. Contact: Ginger Caviness - GC Productions at (503)432-7607 or Email: glcaviness@msn.com.

    Dan Golden '75 performing at HEMPSTALK 2008

IN MEMORY OF

KNOWN CLASSMATES/TEACHERS NO LONGER WITH US
Please send an email with details to Linda Doyle if you have an obituary that should be posted here.  Below is a list of classmates who have passed away.  Here are the names for those who have just been added to the list:

DR. PAUL LONGMORE 1960-1963 (CLASS OF 1964)

WAYNE TWITCHELL CLASS OF 1966

TOM WITTY (1921-2010) BIOLOGY TEACHER

AL LOMMEN CLASS OF 1960

Read more about classmates, teachers, community members who have passed away...

REUNIONS

CLASS OF 1961 ... 50TH REUNION ... SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

CLASS OF 1991 REUNION PLANS?
Is there going to be a 20-year class reunion for the Class of 1991 in 2011? Classmates are starting to ask. Let us know if you have any details, so that we can help spread the word to classmates. Send an email to Linda Doyle.

CLASS OF 1981 REUNION PLANS?
Is there going to be a 30-year class reunion for the Class of 1981 in 2011? Classmates are starting to ask. Let us know if you have any details, so that we can help spread the word to classmates. Send an email to Linda Doyle.

CLASS OF 1971 REUNION PLANS?
Is there going to be a 40-year class reunion for the Class of 1971 in 2011? Classmates are starting to ask. Let us know if you have any details, so that we can help spread the word to classmates. Send an email to Linda Doyle.

CLASS OF 1966 REUNION PLANS?
Is there going to be a 45-year reunion for the Class of 1966 in 2011? Let us know, so that we can help spread the word to classmates.  Send an email to Linda Doyle.

Click here for all the reunions and the latest details.

CURRENT STUDENTS

SUPPORT WILSON BASEBALL, BUY AN OUTFIELD SIGN
It's a win-win donation. Purchase an Outfield Sign for $250 for the Wilson Baseball field and you will support Wilson Baseball and promote your business, honor a loved-one, celebrate a success on a Championship Field. You can contact Coach Clopton at 503-916-5280 for all the details.

LOOKING FOR OLD DRAMA POSTERS
Wilson High School is looking for Performing Arts Posters from years past.  Currenty, we have a wall of ASB Presidents and Rose Princesses in the foyer.  Wilson plans to move these photos out of the foyer and to their new spot in the main hall.  We will then put up old and current performing arts posters in the foyer.  If you know someone who has a poster from a prior Wilson Production 1956-2006, we would like a copy.  Please contact Erica Meyers at: emeyers@pps.k12.or.us or call 503-916-6142.

STAY IN TOUCH

WWHS ALUMNI - WEBSITE
Check out the WWHS Alumni website and don't forget to complete the simple online form to join the WWHS Alumni database. To help us reach as many graduates as possible, please consider adding the link to our website (http://www.wilsonalumni.com/) from your website. Pass the word along to your Wilson High School classmates about the Wilson High School Alumni website and the opportunity to register. Tell your friends.

UNSUBSCRIBE
If you are receiving the WWHS Alumni Update, please make sure to add the following email address to your address book (lsdoyle@earthlink.net). This way your internet/email provider will not view the e-newsletter as spam. Thanks! If you would like to be removed from the list, just send an email to Linda Doyle.