Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Update - October, 2019
http://www.wilsonalumni.com
edited by Linda Doyle
SCHOOL NEWS
WILSON SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE ... Did you know…
• One in four college students graduate with student debt.
• Tuition and fees to attend a public four-year university have jumped 275% since 2000.
• Over 1.48 trillion in loan debt is collectively owed which is about 790 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt.
• Oregon has fallen to the bottom tier nationally of states providing financial support for its neediest students.
All of this might be bad news for new high school graduates except that Wilson High School is unique. Wilson has a community that supports our commitment to helping our most deserving seniors succeed after high school. They first appealed to alumni in 2015 to join the Scholarship Initiative and your response was overwhelming. Your generosity has enabled them to provide two $1000 scholarships annually.
Wilson is asking once again for your support as they begin a drive to raise $50,000 to endow perpetual scholarships for Wilson students through the Oregon Community Fund program.
Benefits include:
• Donations are tax-deductible.
• For local businesses, you will receive a Wilson Student Supporter sticker, and the opportunity to advertise on Wilson's website.
• For donations of $1000 or more you can name your scholarship and attend the June awards ceremony to present your gift in person.
• Changing the lives of deserving Wilson students!
How to Donate:
• Checks can be mailed to: Wilson Scholarship Initiative, 1151 SW Vermont, Portland, OR 97219, ATTN: Erica Meyers. Please include your graduation year.
• Credit card contributions can be phoned to: Ana Curtis, Wilson bookkeeper, 503-916- 5280, ext. 75266.
• Donations can be made online through the Schoolpay link below: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Scholarship/Id7CX Please support Wilson's future leaders! No amount is too small. They thank you. Questions? Contact Tina-Marie Baskin, scholarship coordinator (tmbaskinwriting@gmail.com).
WHERE ARE THEY NOWWHERE AREHEY NOW?HARE YOUR STOR
CLASS OF 1959 HOLDS REUNION AND RECONNECTS WITH SCHOOL
by Joan Brennan Heiting '59
The Wilson Class of 1959 had our 60th reunion September 13-14, 2019. We struggled a bit over the summer finding some of our members due to moves, lost emails; but with the help of several of our class mates, we hunted and searched and finally ended up with 18 attending the Wilson high "Nostalgic Memory Tour" on Friday, September 13th, at 1 PM, and 49 attending our Saturday night dinner on September 14th at Ernesto's at 5 PM. Judy Meyer Allen '59, deserves our thanks for sending many email notices, and for making calls to find as many as possible. Karen Willman Otis '59 handled the money and budget for the Ernesto's dinner on Saturday.
One of the highlights of the Friday Wilson High tour was the band teacher (Nick Caldwell) finding an old picture up on top of a bookshelf (from 1956/1957) that had several of our class members in it. This picture was of the first Wilson High orchestra sitting in formal attire on the stage. Two of our class members were actually at the tour on Friday. We carried it around for awhile sharing it with each other. The two members were Emily Lou Erickson Borling '59 and Lyman Rigby '59. Erica showed it to the current Wilson High School Principal Filip Hristić. He took a picture of the picture with Emily and Lyman holding it and standing behind it. The photos are shown below.
Wilson's First Orchestra, Mr. C. Robert White, Director
Wilson HS Orchestra members, Emily Lou Erickson Borling '59 and Lyman Rigby '59
That serendipitous moment carried over to Saturday night when Emily Erickson Borling suggested that we start a scholarship fund for Wilson music students or for any students at the high school. This generated energy to go forward as a group and leave some kind of legacy to the high school. We have learned that we may donate money to the Wilson High 501c3 account and designate what we would like the donation to be used for at the school. Here is the link to donate to the scholarship fund: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Scholarship-Initiative-/ScJSGrC Folks can also send a check to the school and they will make sure to send a donation acknowledgement letter to the donor. Checks can be mailed to: Wilson Scholarship Initiative, 1151 SW Vermont, Portland, OR 97219, ATTN: Erica Caldwell. Please include your graduation year. If you do donate, please also email Emily Borling (click on her name for the email address) so that she can track what our class has sent.
Other highlights of the Friday tour were the visit to the stage and auditorium, where Lyman Rigby and others sat in the exact chair they had sat in for their high school graduation 60 years ago! Such memories! Also we visited the library to view scrapbooks, yearbooks, and share memories. Special thanks to Ms. Lanzas, the librarian for getting all the old books out of the back room for us! While in the gym, Karen Willman Otis and Joan Brennan Heiting took pictures of the Wilson Fight Song up on the wall, and we actually sang the song on Saturday night as part of our celebration. Our dinner speeches began with Bob Handy '59 and Tom Hedford '59 sharing their times spent in Mr. Proppe's office. They spoke with humor, and some delight, sharing stories which many of us did not know. Maybe at our age, we can put our teenage escapades into perspective. Tom and Bob are now upstanding citizens, of course! We also sang the fight song, counted how many were there from the different grade schools, and took time for serious remembering and honoring of classmates who have passed.
We have a new committee to take over the email list, updating and editing it. They are Margot Noall Pearson, Dennie Allen Sharer, and Ginny Robertson (Virginia Rust) If you have emails that have changed, please email one of these ladies. We have decided to celebrate our 80th birthdays at Barry and Sue Post's Farm, where we gathered for our 75th. Tom Hedford had an excellent idea to charter a bus or two for transportation to and from Portland.
At the close of our tour at Wilson High on Friday, Erica Caldwell, Wilson High Business Manager, who led the tour, mentioned that perhaps we should encourage more alumni to come back and visit the school. She introduced us to the principal and some of the teachers as we wandered about the school. We were especially impressed with how interested the students seemed to be that we were back visiting 60 years after we graduated. Please call Erica at the high school (503-916-5280) if you wish to arrange for a tour of the school for yourself and a few friends.
NOTE: The family of Wilson choir teacher, Merle Lotz, also started a scholarship fund for WHS music students after he passed away. Here is the link to this scholarship in his name: https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Merle-Lotz-Scholarship-Fund/S6HPeu. Donations to this fund go to any music student, not just choir.
WILSON GRAD NAMED NEW PRESIDENT, WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIO
Clark Spencer '81 is an American film producer, businessman and studio executive, best known for his work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He graduated from Harvard University in 1985 with a degree in history. Spencer joined Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1993. He produced the film Lilo & Stitch (2002). Since then, Spencer has gone on to also produce the Disney animated film Bolt, as well as Winnie the Pooh, Wreck-It Ralph, and Zootopia. In 2019, Spencer was named president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Follow this link to read about Spencer.
1966 GRAD ENRICHES COMMUNITY BY DONATING HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE
Owen Blank graduated from Wilson in 1966. He received a B.A., with great distinction, political science and economics, Stanford University, Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1973. He has practiced law in Portland for the four decades and is a Partner with Tonkon Torp LLP. According to the Tonkon Torp LLP website, Owen has an extensive range of legal experience in business, commercial, real estate, and corporate matters. Among the clients he represents are small family-held businesses, national and international corporations, nonprofit organizations, and charitable foundations. His industry experience includes manufacturing, retail, sports, media, entertainment, and technology. Owen’s experience also includes counseling nonprofits on their governance, operational, and investment issues. He has served as a member, officer and/or director of many civic and nonprofit organization committees, task forces, and boards of directors. For for than two decades, Owen and his colleagues at Tonkon Torp have provided pro bono legal services to Albina Head Start, which serves approximately 1,000 children and their families. As a result, Albina Head Start renamed one of its centers in NE Portland with his name. He was awarded the Multnomah Bar Association/Legal Aid Services of Oregon/Oregon Law Center 2015 Pro Bono Award of Merit.
Owen says he feels, “very fortunate to have had several dedicated teachers at Wilson. Bill Guffy stands out because he was one of my teachers and also one of my counselors and I enjoyed discussing (debating) topics of the day with him. Caroline Miller was brilliant and demanding but also very fun to tease.” His advice for current Wilson students is to, “be a participant—like the song says when you have a choice to sit it out or dance, you have an obligation to your community and yourself to dance.”
A classmate of Owen’s (Peter Deckers ’66) reminded us of the painting (as shown below) done by the late Bill Papas, set in downtown Portland that features the images of some of the city’s best-known personalities who have played roles in modern Portland, including Wilson High School’s Owen Blank, Nike’s Phil Knight, former Mayor Vera Katz, former governor and U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield, Columbia Sportswear’s Gert Boyle and philanthropist Arlene Schnizter. This painting, formerly on display at the Hilton Hotel from 1995 to 2014, has been donated to the Oregon Historical Society and is on display in the museum’s North Wing Gallery.
REMARKABLE WRITER AND TEACHER
Katey Schultz graduated from Wilson High School in 1997 and is the author of Flashes of War, which the Daily Beast praised as an “ambitious and fearless” collection, and Still Come Home the winner of the first ever Ciofalo Award. Honors for her work include the Linda Flowers Literary Award, IndieFab Book of the Year from Foreword Reviews, a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America, four Pushcart nominations, and writing fellowships in eight states. She lives in Celo, North Carolina and is the founder of Maximum Impact, a transformative mentoring service for creative writers that has been recognized by both CNBC and the What Works Network. There is a Reading with Katey Schultz, author of Still Come Home on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 7 pm at Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97210.
What reviewers are saying ...
“Still Come Home is personal, global, tender, brutal, and deeply introspective … one of the finest works of fiction yet to come out of the Long Wars.”
—Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
When the odds are stacked against you, doing everything right still might not be enough to protect yourself and the ones you love. The three characters in Katey Schultz’s novel are each searching for the best way to be, the best way to live—all the while fighting cultural, societal, and political forces far beyond their control. As their paths intersect over the span of three days, Still Come Home explores how their decisions will forever alter each other’s lives. Aaseya, an ambitious, educated Afghan girl, struggles to walk the line between social disgrace and faith that her hometown of Imar can unharden and heal. Though she cannot bear her older husband, Rahim, a child, and she suspects her sister-in-law played a part in her family’s murder, Aaseya maintains self-reliance and dignity by rebelling against the misogyny and violence surrounding her.
Second Lieutenant Nathan Miller blames himself for the death of a soldier under his command and worries that his constant absence from his North Carolina home has permanently damaged his marriage. When Rahim learns that the Taliban, whom he reluctantly works for, are hatching this violent plan, conflicting loyalties to country, to enduring peace, and to his young wife take all three down a road that will change their lives forever.
“Schultz's ability to enter into these radically different lives is nothing short of breathtaking. There is tragedy here, but also humor, moral blindness, along with deep courage. And the desert holds it all.” —Abigail DeWitt, author of News of Our Loved Ones
THIRD BOOK BY 1975 GRADS - WITH CHARACTERS INSPIRED BY THEIR TIME AT WILSON
KC Cowan Micallef ’75 has spent her life working in television and radio as a new reporter. Sara Cole ’75 is an officer with Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, where she is a Crime Prevention Officer. But, together they have co-authored JOURNEY TO WIZARDS’ KEEP and THE HUNT FOR WINTER. Now, the third book in their fantasy book series EVERFIRE is out. With many of the characters inspired from people they went to school with at Wilson, this book should be a fun read! In the new book, EVERFIRE, Crown Prince Winter is safely back home in the tiny kingdom of Cabbage after being rescued from the Land of the Dead. But Queen Irene knows that as long as the evil wizards Anthony and Zarohdin remain alive, danger hangs over them all. She begins to assemble an army to attack the wizards. Irene’s friend, Kay, disguises herself to work as a servant in Zarohdin’s alabaster castle but in reality, she becomes a spy for the rebel army. Fitzgerald leaves his pregnant wife, Nan, behind to lead his troops into battle. During the first skirmish with the rebels, Anthony’s army is in danger of being overrun, In desperation, he casts a spell to invoke Everfire, causing a wall of flames to spring up to surround his territory and protect him while he regroups. But Kay and Fitzgerald are trapped on the wrong side of the flames. Can Irene, Nan, and Kay prevail against two powerful wizards? Everfire sends them on a wild adventure of espionage, war, romance, and surprises in the third installment of the Irene, Nan, and Kay fantasy series. EVERFIRE is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Everfire-separates-wizard-determined-victorious-ebook/dp/B07V78TXH8. Artwork by: Portlander Shanon Playford.
WORKING TO BRING WORLD ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS TO PORTLAND
by Kevin Hyland ‘76
Friends of WWHS, Please join me in signing a petition to bring the World Road Cycling Championships to Portland! These Worlds are the biggest annual single-city sporting event in the world! But the opportunity is bigger than a bike race- this event will bring the Community together, Re-energize the bike-movement, provide an Economic Boost of $130M, and Showcase the Region to millions of people around the world! Our goal is to reach 10,000 signatures and we need your support. You can read more and sign the petition here: http://chng.it/X2kcVT2p.Thanks for your help!
PIL 2019 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The following Wilson athletics will be inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame in October 27, 2019 at Multnomah Athletic Club, recognition starts with no-host social at 4pm and induction banquet at 5:30pm at the Multnomah Athletic Club.
Tim Baltus, Baseball, Class of 1976
Sol Sallos, Soccer, Track & Field, Class of 1990
Jason Porter, Football, Wrestling, Baseball, Class of 1989.
SEND YOUR UPDATES
Send us the details on where/what you have been doing since graduation from Wilson, and we'll post in an upcoming WWHS Alumni Update e-newsletter. Send details to Linda Doyle.
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 just been added to the list:
MICHAEL HENRY BLOOM '72
ED MIESEN '77
ROBERT (BOB) GORDON EDWARDS '62
DALLAS LOMMEN '57
JANE CLARKE '72
JANICE CLARK '72
STAN HORTON '72
LANNY R. GARLAND '59
JERRY RAY WRIGHT '57
ROBERT H. “BOB” SCHIERHOLZ ‘57
KENNETH (KEN) RUEDY '62
CLARICE ALLEN KRALOVEC ‘75
MICHAEL C. RAMSBY '65
MICHAEL EDWARD ANTONELLI '79
DICK SPEIGHT
(WILSON TEACHER) in 2004
JEFFREY ARTHUR THIELEN '65 in 1965
PAUL KALMBACH (COMMUNITY MEMBER)
- person who suggested name for Woodrow Wilson High School
ALAN JAY GOULD ’65
ERNEST P. BARTNIK ’65
SHELLEY BRAMWELL ‘65
GERALD KENT DUPUY ‘65
JANET LYNN BARNETT MECKLEM possibly ‘66
DIANA NELSON possibly '65
JAMES PRESTON LEFLAR ‘65
RHONDA RAE LARSEN-MASSEY '67
Click on this link to read more about classmates, teachers, community members who have passed away... Once on the page, scroll down to find the class year.
REUNIONS
Lots of reunions are being planned, so reach out to your classmates for the dates/details. Please send those details to us and we will post on the alumni website. Send details to: Lsdoyle@earthlink.net.
CLASS OF 1959 ... 60th reunion 2019 ALREADY HELD
Get on your "Trojan Horse" and celebrate the Wilson Class of 1959 60th reunion.
Dates: September 13 - September 14, 2019.
CLASS OF 1962 ... turns 75 reunion picnic 2019 ALREADY HELD
Classmates gathered at Gabriel Park, on SW Vermont St, on Saturday June 22, 2019 for a picnic/social. Any questions contact Judy White Fisher '62 or Leslie Averill '62.
CLASS OF 1964 ... 55th reunion gathering 2019 ALREADY HELD
FRIDAY WATERFRONT WALK: Friday, September 13th - River Walk @ 4:30pm.
SATURDAY REUNION GATHERING: Saturday, September 14th - 55th Reunion Party @ 5:00pm.
CLASS OF 1965 ... 54th reunion 2019 ALREADY HELD
Class of 65 will have our 54th reunion on September 7, 2019 at The Vault: Gastro Mania (the old O’Connor’s).
CLASS OF 1967 ... 52nd reunion 2019
Celebrating our 52nd anniversary and 70th birthdays. Saturday, October 19, 2019, noon-4 pm, Lucky Lab Beer Hall, 1945 NW Quimby, Portland. $10 cover, order off the menu. Program to include classmates (need volunteers). You may RSVP now or before October 12 at: Wilson67reunions@gmail.com or 503-914-0709 (landline).
CLASS OF 1969 ... 50th reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
Heads up for 2019. Class of '69 is having it's reunion on Saturday, August 3, 2019 at Tualatin Country Club. A golf event will be held at Redtail on Friday, August 2, 2019.
SPECIAL CLASS OF 1968 ROBERT GRAY ... 51st reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
The Robert Gray class of 1968 held a reunion get together, Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Sellwood Park “D” area. Questions to Ann Martin ’72 or Sheila “Cay” Goudge at 541-639-5661 cell/text. They had a special tour of Robert Gray School on June 21.
CLASS OF 1978 ... reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
The Class of 1978 is holding their reunion at the Cascade Brewing (formerly Raccoon Lodge) Bvtn Hills hwy, 6:30 pm August 3rd, 2019. See Facebook page: Woody Hi PDX '78 Reunion
CLASS OF 1979 ... 40th reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
Class of 1979 will hold their 40th reunion at Gabriel Park on Saturday, August 10, 2019, from Noon – 4pm. There is also a Facebook group, open to all, Wilson High School Class of 1979: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1805622539749414.
CLASS OF 1984 ... 35th reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
"Save the Date" for the 35th year reunion of the Class of 1984 on Saturday, August 10, 2019. Be sure to join our Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whspdx/. If you have questions or would like to join the reunion committee, contact John Kodachi or Julie Wallace.
CLASS OF 1989 ... 30th reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
Classmates held a reunion on July 27th, 2019, at the Multnomah Arts Center in SW Portland’s Multnomah Village. Be sure to join our Facebook group at: Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 1989. If you have questions, contact Sara McDevitt '89 or Andrea (Combs) Brennan.
CLASS OF 1999 ... 20th reunion in 2019 ALREADY HELD
Classmates your 20-year reunion is on Saturday, August 24th at Produce Row. It will start at 7pm. Tickets prices are TBD. Go to Facebook page titled "Wilson High School '99 - 20yr Reunion." Questions, reach out to Grahm Porozni '99.
CLASS OF 2009 ... Any plans for a reunion?
GET ALL THE DETAILS about upcoming reunions at: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/reunions.htm
REUNIONS ALREADY HELD
CLASS OF 2008 ... held December 2018
CLASS OF 1963 ... held June 16, 2018
CLASS OF 1964 ... held September 8, 2018
CLASS OF 1965 ... held September 29, 2018
CLASS OF 1967 ... held October 20, 2018
CLASS OF 1968 ... held September 7,8,9, 2018
CLASS OF 1978 ... held July 28, 2018
CLASS OF 1988 ... held July 21, 2018
CLASS OF 1998 ... held September 22, 2018
CLASS OF 1961 ... held August 19, 2017
CLASS OF 1964 ... held September 16, 2017
CLASS OF 1965 ... held September 16, 2017
CLASS OF 1967 ... held August 4, 2017
CLASS OF 1977 ... held July 22, 2017
CLASS OF 1959 ... July 23, 2016
CLASS OF 1961 ... July 15, 2016
CLASS OF 1965 ... August 13 2016
CLASS OF 1966 ... September 24, 2016
CLASS OF 1971 ... September 24, 2016
CLASS OF 1976 ... August 6, 2016
CLASS OF 1991 ... July 30, 2016
CLASS OF 1996 ... August 5-6, 2016
CLASS OF 2006 ... September 24, 2016
MILITARY SERVICE
WILSON GRADUATES WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Please check out the WWHS Military Alumni page and read all about our amazing military graduates. To add your name and information to the WWHS Military 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):
WWHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Alumni and community members are continuing to move forward to establish the WWHS Alumni Association. Application process for tax-exempt status of association is progressing (with special thanks to Jack Bertell '58). If you would like to join them, contact Jack Bertell '58.
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.