Linfield considering name change to 'university' (N-R 11/1/2019)

Linfield considering name change to 'university'


By Starla Pointer McMinnville N-R Nov 1, 2019



Linfield College is considering changing its name to Linfield University as it prepares to add graduate programs and seeks to continue increasing enrollment.


President Miles Davis said he will present the name change proposal to the Board of Trustees when they meet next week. If the board grants tentative approval, with the intention of finalizing the change at its next meeting in mid-winter, the college will begin laying plans for changing signs, logos and memorabilia, such as Wildcat T-shirts and hats.


A university is an institution that offers graduate programs as well as undergraduate education in schools and colleges.


Linfield is working toward grad programs in health fields, as an expansion of its popular bachelor’s degree / registered nursing program; and in other areas, such as the wine studies program, which already is partnering with a university in France to offer a combined bachelor/master’s degree program that starts on the McMinnville campus and finishes with two years in Europe.


No matter whether it’s called a college or a university, though, Davis said Linfield will always retain its small-school friendliness and opportunities.



Davis sent an electronic survey to alumni Oct. 22. He said he received about 2,000 responses, and said most were overwhelmingly supportive of “Linfield University.”


Only about 7 percent responded negatively, most of them saying they are fine with the word “college.”


But the supporters said they like the idea of a university with a school of business, a school of nursing and a college of arts and sciences — the latter the moniker for the liberal arts campus in McMinnville.

Some asked why the change to “university” hasn’t happened earlier, Davis said. Some wondered whether Linfield would restart its master’s degree program in education, which was disbanded in the 1980s, in addition to starting new graduate opportunities.


Currently, Linfield uses the name college to describe its overall program, with the nursing bachelor’s degree program in Portland, started in 1982, labeled “the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing.”


Nursing and business majors make up the bulk of Linfield’s 2,200 students, Davis said — 65 percent overall, and 87 percent of those enrolled in online programs.


About 400 students are studying on the nursing campus in northwest Portland. Most start at the McMinnville campus, along with their peers in business and other programs, then transfer to Portland after two years.


In 2021, the nursing school, which is now at capacity, will move to expanded quarters in east Portland. Last year, Linfield purchased the 20-acre, 10 building campus of the University Western States chiropractic school.


Having additional space will mean room for more students, Davis said, and also a wider variety of health care degree programs and graduate studies — physical therapy, for example.


Experienced nurses would have more opportunities to return to school through Linfield’s online program to earn bachelor’s or advanced degrees. And there also will be more room for clinical practicums, required for students who want to become licensed.


Linfield was founded in 1858 by American Baptist Church members. Then known as McMinnville College, it held its first classes where the Baptist Church is now located, then built Pioneer Hall on its current site. The campus expanded in terms of both facilities and programs.


In 1922, it was renamed Linfield College in honor of the Linfield family, who were major donors.


After decades of offering a classical, basic education that trained primarily “teachers and preachers,” Linfield added a business major in 1927. Other majors followed, including those in sciences, social sciences, health and human performance, technology, languages and other fields, including the school of nursing in 1982.


Adding that first new major, business, was controversial, Davis said, as all change is. But change is necessary, he said, as a college must reflect the desires and needs of its students. 


The makeup of the student body is always evolving, he said, with more women, more students of color and more first-generation college students in recent years. One continuous thread has been students’ desire to have a defined career path -- a concrete way of determining a return for their investment in higher education.


“The intrinsic value will always be there,” Davis said, “but we’ve reached the point that people need to ask themselves, ‘What will I have when I graduate?’”

TRAVELIN’ MAN IN HIS VAN: Linfielder John Ekemo visited 48 U.S. states, 8 Canadian Provinces and Mexico during a 177-day trip

(Photos: John and his van and a photo John took of Main Street in Riverton, Wyoming.)

Growing up in Cordova, Alaska, John Ekemo (Linfield Class of 1969) had a yearning for travel.

“Cordova has three roads -- one each of three, six and 25 miles – none of them connecting to another town. The only way into or out of Cordova is via Valdez, a six hour ferry ride away. From Valdez it’s an eight hour drive to Anchorage. So, when opportunities to travel arose while I lived in Alaska I took advantage of them,” John said.

For instance, in 1972 he traveled to Spain and Portugal; in 1974 to New Zealand, Australia and Tahiti; and in 1975 he took a trip during which he visited 26 states.

“After the 1975 trip, seeing more of the U.S. was on my bucket list. But I didn’t get to ‘seeing more of the U.S.’ until after I retired in Seattle in January 2019 after 50 years of work including 35 years in real estate appraisal.” His career also included banking and real estate.

Starting on March 23, 2019, and ending Sept. 15, 2019 -- that’s 177 days -- John traveled in his van through 48 U.S. states, 8 Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia) and Mexico.

Including six ferry rides (three each in the U.S. and Canada) he traveled almost 30,000 miles. 

During the time John (who has three sisters) was live-in caretaker for his mother, May Ekemo, in Seattle he started planning for a van trip. After his mom passed away (Alzheimer’s) at the end of October 2018, the trip was possible.

He traveled in a 1995 GMC Camper Van which he bought for $8,000 and put about $2,000 into so it was “road ready.”

His trip started and ended in Welches (Clackamas County), Oregon, in the Mount Hood Corridor. 

“One of the criteria of my trip was to avoid freeways and take minor less traveled roads. Probably just 500 or so miles on my trip were driven on freeways. Another criteria was to avoid major cities,” he said.

John “enjoyed living in the van and having freedom to go someplace on the spur of the moment. I’ve decided to keep doing it while my health is still good and I am able. At some point I will move into a house or apartment, but right now I consider myself houseless rather than homeless.”

When John started his trip on March 23 he “knew there were some places and people I wanted to see, but other than that I had no itinerary,” he said.

In a Nevada restaurant, while he had breakfast, he decided plan each day the night before. Find “someplace about 200-300 miles away and drive there. Get on the road about 9-10 a.m. and try and be off the road by 4-6 p.m.,” he said.

While in Nevada he drove south to Arizona. In Arizona he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Mexico for a quick visit. There he saw immigrants legally crossing the border and construction of some of the border wall.

When he departed Oregon on his trip he wasn’t planning to visit 48 states and 8 Canadian provinces.

The decision about 48 states was made in April while he was in Mississippi. There he counted the number of states (10) he had visited to that point. Then he looked at a map to see how he could travel to the other 38 states. It could be done and he was going to do it. 

Adding 8 Canada provinces happened because Newfoundland in Canada was on his bucket list of places to see. 

“But, I had no idea that it was going to be a 3,000 mile, two week trip to get to Newfoundland and back from Maine. That included ferry rides of 12 and 16 hours,” he said.

Newfoundland was his favorite of all the Canadian provinces he visited because of the variety of landscapes, icebergs and the historically important airport in Gander.” 

When it opened in 1936 it was the largest airport in the world. During World War II the Gander, Newfoundland, Airport was the main staging point for the movement of Allied aircraft to Europe during World War II.

Gander played host to thousands of airline passengers stranded at its airport when American airspace was closed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Expectations before making the trip? John had none. 

“I let it unfold. Every day was something unexpected. I didn’t always follow the route I had planned the night before,” he said.

His frustration during the trip was usually directed at his smartphone. “I relied on it to find RV parks, cheap gas prices and roads. When the phone wouldn’t do what I wanted it to, I would be frustrated, “John said.

Unexpected happenings during the trip included:

--On July 3 while visiting Niagara Falls, New York, he was overcome with heat exhaustion and dehydration in the 95 degree heat. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he spent five hours being rehydrated.

--In Wyoming his van engine blew up. He coasted the van five miles to a garage in Riverton, Wyo. There he learned mechanics doing van air conditioning work earlier in the trip in Delaware didn’t install the two bolts holding the air conditioning bracket to the van firewall. He spent 18 days in Riverton, “a very friendly town of 12,000 people” — until his van was repaired. 

John said, “It was a truly remarkable trip, beyond my wildest imagination. I encourage everyone to explore the U.S.I proved there are ways to do it without it costing an arm and a leg.”

The beauty and diversity of the country and of the National Parks constantly amazed John. “We truly are the breadbasket of the world with our vast farmlands. The 300 year old history of the East gave me an understanding of what ‘Old Money and Privilege’ mean. We are blessed with over 3,000 miles of white sand beached from South Padre Islands around the Gulf of Mexico and up the East coast into New Jersey. There is history everywhere in the country.”

Would he take such a trip again? “Yes, parts of the country I would like to see again. However, “I would like to travel with a partner. I got tired of making all the mistakes!,” he said.

POSTSCRIPTS --

--Currently he’s at home in his van in Quilcene, on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsulas. He’s encamped on five acres with 200 feet frontage on a bay.

-- Welches is where John’s Linfield classmate, Dick (Class of 1970) and Kathy Bushnell, live. During his trip he enjoyed visiting Joe (Class of 1969) and Suzy Robillard in Edmonds, Oklahoma. 

--John visited nine cousins from Texas to North Carolina during the trip. He also saw friends from Alaska who now live in other states.

--A major expense during the trip was gas for the van. It probably averaged around $2.70 a gallon. A spot in a RV park ranged from $9 (Arkansas) to $110 (Florida), $30-$50 was the average. A Good Sam (RV club) or other travel memberships saves money. A U.S. National Park Service Senior Pass is a must, said John.

LINFIELD FOOTBALL TEAM BLACK JERSEYS

Black jerseys are what Linfield’s football team wore during its Homecoming football game on Maxwell Field in McMinnville on 10/12/2019.  

The jerseys have “LINFIELD” above numerals on front, "WILDCATS” above numerals on back and an “L” and  representation of Wildcat face on each sleeve.

Wildcatville photos:

Dr. Bob Gill: This time, Portland sports backer makes history instead of just making it possible for others

Dr. Bob Gill has a Linfield connection. Scroll to end of story, click on link to learn about the connection.


By Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune, Sept 24, 2019 


It was an eventful Tuesday night (Sept 4, 2019) at Multnomah Athletic Club, with big-ticket inductees Mark Radford, Ray Blume, Kenny Moore, Molly McConnell and the original, 1975 Portland Timbers taking bows as they made their way into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. 


Then there was a name a lot of sports fans won't recognize, but was every bit as deserving. 


Bob Gill made his living as a dentist in the Portland area, but his avocation — really, his hobby — is tracking sports history.

"Bob is one of the better sports historians ever to come out of Oregon," said Ed Grossenbacher, Gill's close friend, handball partner and a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame himself. 


"He probably knows more than anybody about the history of football in the state," said John McCallum, president of Prime Time Sports, which runs the annual Les Schwab Tires Bowl high school all-star football game. 


Gill has authored a pair of historical books — "Mel Renfro: Forever a Cowboy," and "It's in Their Blood," a biographical sketch of 53 football coaches and players from the state of Oregon. Gill also has published a history book of the Les Schwab Bowl, which began as the Oregon Shrine Game in 1948. 


Last year, Gill was honored with the MAC's "Cebula Award," after writing a booklet on the history of handball players at the athletic facility. 


"I've done that for my high school group at our reunions," said Gill, who turns 83 in November. "And for my dental school class of '61." 


Gill does these things because, well, if he doesn't do them, they don't get done. 


"Bob is that guy who is a facilitator, an organizer, but never gets any recognition," former NFL and Portland State quarterback Neil Lomax said. "He's a behind-the-scenes guy, and it's neat his contributions are finally being acknowledged." 


Gill is past president and served as a board member with the National Football Foundation's scholar-athlete program for 40 years. He successfully nominated Lomax and coaches Tommy Prothro and Ad Rutschman to the NFF College Hall of Fame. 


"Bob was the point man to make sure the (NFF College Hall of Fame) committee knew about me," Lomax said. "He was a huge reason why I got selected, and he took the lead in making sure my experience with the College Football Hall of Fame was as first-class as it was." 


Each year at the local NFF banquet, Portland-area scholar-athlete football players were honored. Coaches at Oregon State and Portland State would present awards, and a national name would serve as keynote speaker. 


"What we failed to do was impress upon the kids to give back to the program later on," Gill said. The NFF banquet has been dark for two years now due to lack of volunteers to run the program in the years after Gill bowed out. 


In 1998, after 50 years of existence, the Shrine Game was on its last legs after moves from Portland to Eugene and Corvallis. 


"It was dying," Lomax said. "The game wasn't even going to take place." 


As an 11-year-old, Gill had attended the first Shrine Game. He had played in it, as a quarterback out of Jefferson High, in 1954. Gill later served as president of the Shrine Game board and helped it through its transition to the Les Schwab Bowl. 


"Bob was the guy who pulled everything together," said Larry Knudsen, who was on the state's coaches association board at the time. 


"He was a key component, especially in connecting the right people to get the game moved back to Portland," said McCallum, who in 1998 was working as an intern at "ProMax," Lomax's sports management firm. "He used his connections with the coaches and the Shriners to make the move happen." 


ProMax helped procure enough sponsorship to keep the game alive; Prime Time Sports, under the direction of McCallum, took it over in 2007 and still operates the annual affair at Hillsboro Stadium. 


"It would not have happened without Bob," Lomax said.

In 1975, Gill worked with metal worker Gary Hamblet to produce the "Chuck Withers Memorial Award." For the past 44 years, the award has been presented at the postseason players banquet to a deserving supporter of Portland State football. 


Oh, yes — Gill also served eight years on the board of directors (1986-95) for the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame, with six years as chairman of the selection committee. 


Gill is a pretty fair athlete himself. He was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame in 2005 for his performance as Jeff's QB, just a few years ahead of future Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker. 

Later, in his 50's, Gill became a handball player, and has joined with Grossenbacher to win three regional Masters doubles titles. Grossenbacher, a star basketball player during his college years at Willamette, is the most decorated handball player in U.S. history with 58 national age-group titles. 


"Bob and I come from similar backgrounds," said Grossenbacher, 81. "He didn't have a father, either. We played ball in the streets as kids. We're like bookends. He's a doctor of dentistry; I'm a doctor of orthopedic surgery. We self-educated ourselves to the highest degree. 


"I consider Bob a scholar-athlete. Athletics doesn't build character; it reveals character. Hs is the sweetest, most compassionate guy, a great provider for his family. He's my hero." 


That's why it was difficult for Grossenbacher in March 2018 when Gill was diagnosed with a stage-four malignant brain tumor. 


"We had a talk," Grossenbacher said. "I told him, 'Bob, you were born an athlete; you're going to die an athlete.' And he still is an athlete. He works out and keeps up his health. Jim Valvano said to live life to the fullest ever day. Bob went Valvano on me." 


After surgery to remove the tumor and ensuing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, doctors found a second tumor. They put Gill on Vastin, a drug to slow its growth. He was told his life expectancy was seven to 11 months. 


Eighteen months later, "I'm doing fine," he said. "I can't believe it. I do not have any symptoms, not even a headache."


In August 2018, though, Gill was dealt another blow. His wife of 61 years, Faith, succumbed to kidney failure. Bob served as caregiver for her final eight years of life. "She was my lifelong cheerleader," he said. 


Gill has gotten through the heartache, in part due to his many friendships and his sport. He plays handball three days a week at the MAC club. 


"You know the book, 'Tuesdays with Morrie'?" Grossenbacher asked. "Bob has 'Mondays with Eddie.' He has spaghetti with Eddie. We play handball, then we eat and talk about life." 


It was cool to see Gill milling around the room at the social hour before Tuesday's banquet, visiting with friends (and former Jefferson Democrats) such as Baker, Renfro, Mick Hergert, Art Eckman and Dave Gunderson. For once, Gill was getting photos taken of him. Normally, he's the one snapping pictures of everyone else. 


Induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame means a lot to Gill, who learned much when he hosted Joe Loprinzi in 1991. The legendary fitness/weightlifting coach was inducted, like Gill, for special contribution to sports. 


"Joe was the most appreciative person in the room that night," Gill said. "I took a picture of him when (Oregon Journal sports editor) George Pasero presented him with his award. I took it to his house the next day. He framed it and put it in his office, where it stayed until he died. That made an impact on me, when I saw how he reacted and what it meant to him." 


On Tuesday night, it was Gill on the receiving end of a well-deserved award. So nice to see it go to a person who has lived a life full of giving. 


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Read more about Dr. Bob Gill (link below) and his Linfield connection:


https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2016/08/tip-of-wildcatville-hat-thanking-sports.html

Helena, Mont., Sept. 8, 2018, Linfield and Carroll. Linfield Football ‘voice’ Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen, color commentator, of Linfield Sports Network, at Nelson Stadium.

Helena, Mont., Sept. 8, 2018, Linfield and Carroll. Linfield Football ‘voice’ Kevin Nelson and Dave Hansen, color commentator, of Linfield Sports Network, at Nelson Stadium. (Wildcatville photo)

GRAEME FINEMAN: NEW LINFIELD FOOTBALL PLAY-BY-PLAY ‘VOICE’

Linfield Football play-by-play ‘voice’ Graeme Fineman, and Dave Hansen, color commentator, right to left. Photo 11/23/2019 in Orange, Calif., by Wildcatville.
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Posted 9/9/2019 at Wildcatville 

Graeme Fineman is the new Linfield football play-by-play “voice,” according to information posted on the Linfield Athletics website 8/19/2019.

A Linfield 2019 grad, Fineman succeeds Kevin Nelson, Linfield Class of 2016, who held the job for three games in the 2015 and all games during the 2016, 2017 and 2018 football seasons. Nelson left Linfield for a social media job in Portland.

As with Nelson, Fineman will be joined during the Linfield football broadcasts by Dave Hansen, long-time Linfield football color commentator.

And, as did Nelson, Fineman will hold another job at Linfield. That’s external relations coordinator. Nelson was athletics external relations coordinator after initially serving as community partnership representative.

Born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Fineman graduated from Linfield with a bachelor's degree in history.

According to Linfield’s 8/19/2019 posting, Fineman became involved in Linfield's sports communications efforts “during his junior year, serving as play-by-play announcer for Linfield men's and women's soccer and baseball, and also providing color commentary on Wildcats basketball broadcasts.

“In his new position, he'll manage Linfield's sports webcasting coverage, handling the play-by-play on Linfield football videocasts together with longtime color analyst Dave Hansen.

“Fineman's broadcasting influences include Washington Nationals radio announcers Dave Jageler and Charlie Slowes, as well as broadcasting legends Vin Scully and Kevin Harlan.

“In addition to his broadcasting responsibilities, Fineman will take on an increasing role with procurement and stewardship of corporate sponsorships as well as athletics marketing and game-day promotional activities. He'll provide general support in the sports information office as well.”

Fineman told Linfield Athletics, “I'm beyond thrilled to continue being a part of the Linfield College family," he said. "I'm excited to help grow the Culture of Excellence that Linfield has established. It is truly is an honor to be the voice of the Linfield Wildcats."

Here’s a list of Linfield football play-by-play “voices” compiled by Wildcatville:

1958 Craig Singletary

1957 Craig Singletary

1958 Craig Singletary

1959 Craig Singletary

1960 Craig Singletary

1961 Craig Singletary

1962 Craig Singletary

1963 Craig Singletary

1964 Craig Singletary

1965 Craig Singletary

1966 Dick Bacon

1967 Dick Bacon

1968 Dick Bacon

1969 Dick Bacon

1970 Chuck McKeen

1971 Dick Bacon

1972 Dick Bacon

1973 Larry Ward

1974 Larry Ward

1975 Larry Ward

1976 Larry Ward

1977 Larry Ward

1978 Dave Hansen

1979 Dave Hansen

1980 Dave Hansen

1981 Dave Hansen

1982 Dave Hansen

1983 Dave Hansen

1984 Dave Hansen

1985 Dave Hansen

1986 Dave Hansen

1987 Dave Hansen

1988 Dave Hansen

1989 Dave Hansen

1990 Dave Hansen

1991 Dave Hansen

1992 Dave Hansen

1993 Dave Hansen

1994 Steve Lindsley

1995 Mark Marshall/Joe Dominey

1996 Mark Marshall/Joe Dominey

1997 Mark Marshall/Joe Dominey

1998 Marty Hough

1999 Marty Hough

2000 Darrell Aune

2001 Darrell Aune

2002 Darrell Aune

2003 Darrell Aune

2004 Darrell Aune

2005 Darrell Aune

2006 Darrell Aune

2007 Darrell Aune

2008 Darrell Aune

2009 Dave Hansen

2010 Bill Johnson

2011 Bill Johnson

2012 Bill Johnson

2013 Bill Johnson

2014 Bill Johnson

2015 Bill Johnson/Kevin Nelson

2016 Kevin Nelson

2017 Kevin Nelson

2018 Kevin Nelson

2019 Graeme Fineman

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