Did Roy D. “Hap” Mahaffey look like a miniature schnauzer? You be the judge! Photo of miniature schnauzer courtesy of Hemlock Schnauzers. This is “Dexter,” not “Mahaffey” mentioned in the story. For Hemlock Schnauzers info click this link.
Alumni Council Notes
By Tim Marsh, Class of 1970
Linfield Alumni Association president, 1981-1982
Appeared in Nov. 1981 Linfield College Bulletin
Linfield is built upon names.
Naturally you think about Mrs. Linfield's name. Her gift resulted in McMinnvilie College becoming Linfield College.
But there's more to it than that. While the Old Oak, Pioneer, and Melrose are names which might all mean Linfield to you and me, there are other names which in their own special way make us think of Linfield.
Cozine, for example. It's the hall or the valley (gully?) near where the creek is located.
Professor Harold Elkinton. Students of my era, I'm Class of 1970, called him "The Elk." In earlier years he was nicknamed by students as "Elky."
And Professor Jonas Jonasson answers to "Steine" or "Stein." That comes from his middle name, Adalsteinn.
Wildcat football has produced more than just numbers.
I don't know about Coach Ad Rutschman's current teams, but I do know that during Coach Paul Durham's era, 1948-67, some football plays had names, instead of numbers.
"Basically our plays were numbered," Durham remembers. "But occasionally we named them after someone.
"One year we had a 'Helser Special,' which (assistant coach) Roy dreamed up. It led to a win over Willamette. We also had a 'Wilson Special,' a play (assistant coach) Ted had put in."
Durham continues, '"think it was the summer of 1961-the Camellia Bowl year-that my son Jeff, a Linfield football player, and his wife, Amy, had my grandson, Bradley (now a Linfield sophomore after transferring from Oregon State University). So we had a football play called the 'Bradley Special,' a pass to his father.
Then there was the "Gebauer" play. "It may have been a scoring play, one we used on the opponent's one-yard line," Durham said. "Everyone loved and respected (Professor) Paul Gebauer and, in football, you can't get an opponent's respect any easier than by scoring on him.
"If I remember correctly, one year we had a 'Mahaffey Special.' Professor Mahaffey directed productions for the drama department and the success of this play was based on some of the backs acting like they were going to do one thing while they ended up doing something else. A good football player has to be an actor."
Actually Professor Mahaffey's first name is Roy, but many people know him as "Happy" or "Hap."
Mahaffey remembers, "My nicknames were quite prolific-and had do with the great deal of red hair I had then. An early one I didn't like was 'pinky,' next in line was 'carrot top.' Then came 'Rosy' and 'Red.'
My first year in college-Ottawa University, it was 'Pat.' I'm not certain but I think that 'Happy' came about with someone mispronouncing my name as 'Mahappy.' I never objected to this. In fact, it’s my favorite and now wife is Mrs. Hap, our two daughters Mishaps and our son is Perhaps!."
Mahaffey might be interested to know that at least one Linfield graduate, Nancy (Biel) Greenland '68, has gone as far as to name her dog after the professor.
“Mahaffey's the dog's name. He was named after Professor Mahaffey, she explained, "because of the similarity in appearance-big bushy eyebrows, full mustache, and shaved head. The miniature Schnauzer line 1ooks that way. 'Mahaffey's personality reminds you so much of Professor Mahaffey---both are a lot of fun and always up to something."
Now it's time for a pop quiz to test your memory about other Linfield names. Ready?
Begin:
1. The last of the old GI apartments next to Maxwell football field had a College-given name and later a student-given one. What where they?
2. Name three restaurants down the street which are or were popular places for Linfield students to eat.
3. Former Linfield President Gordon Bjork came to the College with wife Susan and daughters Katie, Becky, and Susanna. While at the College the Bjorks had a son. What was his name? How old was Professor Bjork when he became Linfield president?
4. How many lanes were there in the old Riley Hall bowling alley?
5. Name the avenue which .runs in front of Memorial Hall, the dorm which is built into the back Memorial Stadium.
Scoring
If you got every question correct you never left Linfield. If you missed just one we'll find an old freshman green beanie or ribbon for you to wear. If you missed all or two or more, you'd better study up and be ready for the mid-term!
If you have any Linfield names you'd like to share with others drop me a note in care of the Linfield Alumni Office.
Answers
1. Laurel Hall. The Waldorf.
2. Bud and Dot's was and is no longer. Alf's and the Rocket still are. Pop's Shop was on the edge of campus, not down the street!
3. Anders was his first name. President Bjork was age 32.
4. Two lanes.
5. Lever Avenue was named for Linfield Coach Henry Lever, now deceased.
By Tim Marsh, Class of 1970
Linfield Alumni Association president, 1981-1982
Appeared in Nov. 1981 Linfield College Bulletin
Linfield is built upon names.
Naturally you think about Mrs. Linfield's name. Her gift resulted in McMinnvilie College becoming Linfield College.
But there's more to it than that. While the Old Oak, Pioneer, and Melrose are names which might all mean Linfield to you and me, there are other names which in their own special way make us think of Linfield.
Cozine, for example. It's the hall or the valley (gully?) near where the creek is located.
Professor Harold Elkinton. Students of my era, I'm Class of 1970, called him "The Elk." In earlier years he was nicknamed by students as "Elky."
And Professor Jonas Jonasson answers to "Steine" or "Stein." That comes from his middle name, Adalsteinn.
Wildcat football has produced more than just numbers.
I don't know about Coach Ad Rutschman's current teams, but I do know that during Coach Paul Durham's era, 1948-67, some football plays had names, instead of numbers.
"Basically our plays were numbered," Durham remembers. "But occasionally we named them after someone.
"One year we had a 'Helser Special,' which (assistant coach) Roy dreamed up. It led to a win over Willamette. We also had a 'Wilson Special,' a play (assistant coach) Ted had put in."
Durham continues, '"think it was the summer of 1961-the Camellia Bowl year-that my son Jeff, a Linfield football player, and his wife, Amy, had my grandson, Bradley (now a Linfield sophomore after transferring from Oregon State University). So we had a football play called the 'Bradley Special,' a pass to his father.
Then there was the "Gebauer" play. "It may have been a scoring play, one we used on the opponent's one-yard line," Durham said. "Everyone loved and respected (Professor) Paul Gebauer and, in football, you can't get an opponent's respect any easier than by scoring on him.
"If I remember correctly, one year we had a 'Mahaffey Special.' Professor Mahaffey directed productions for the drama department and the success of this play was based on some of the backs acting like they were going to do one thing while they ended up doing something else. A good football player has to be an actor."
Actually Professor Mahaffey's first name is Roy, but many people know him as "Happy" or "Hap."
Mahaffey remembers, "My nicknames were quite prolific-and had do with the great deal of red hair I had then. An early one I didn't like was 'pinky,' next in line was 'carrot top.' Then came 'Rosy' and 'Red.'
My first year in college-Ottawa University, it was 'Pat.' I'm not certain but I think that 'Happy' came about with someone mispronouncing my name as 'Mahappy.' I never objected to this. In fact, it’s my favorite and now wife is Mrs. Hap, our two daughters Mishaps and our son is Perhaps!."
Mahaffey might be interested to know that at least one Linfield graduate, Nancy (Biel) Greenland '68, has gone as far as to name her dog after the professor.
“Mahaffey's the dog's name. He was named after Professor Mahaffey, she explained, "because of the similarity in appearance-big bushy eyebrows, full mustache, and shaved head. The miniature Schnauzer line 1ooks that way. 'Mahaffey's personality reminds you so much of Professor Mahaffey---both are a lot of fun and always up to something."
Now it's time for a pop quiz to test your memory about other Linfield names. Ready?
Begin:
1. The last of the old GI apartments next to Maxwell football field had a College-given name and later a student-given one. What where they?
2. Name three restaurants down the street which are or were popular places for Linfield students to eat.
3. Former Linfield President Gordon Bjork came to the College with wife Susan and daughters Katie, Becky, and Susanna. While at the College the Bjorks had a son. What was his name? How old was Professor Bjork when he became Linfield president?
4. How many lanes were there in the old Riley Hall bowling alley?
5. Name the avenue which .runs in front of Memorial Hall, the dorm which is built into the back Memorial Stadium.
Scoring
If you got every question correct you never left Linfield. If you missed just one we'll find an old freshman green beanie or ribbon for you to wear. If you missed all or two or more, you'd better study up and be ready for the mid-term!
If you have any Linfield names you'd like to share with others drop me a note in care of the Linfield Alumni Office.
Answers
1. Laurel Hall. The Waldorf.
2. Bud and Dot's was and is no longer. Alf's and the Rocket still are. Pop's Shop was on the edge of campus, not down the street!
3. Anders was his first name. President Bjork was age 32.
4. Two lanes.
5. Lever Avenue was named for Linfield Coach Henry Lever, now deceased.
............
More about "Hap" Mahaffey:
Linfield's Mahaffey Hall and a plaque in the hall.
Wildcatville photos taken 4/6/2012
