E. Avard Whitman should be enshrined in the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.
Born 1899 in China where his parents were Baptist missionaries, Ernest Avard Whitman died at age 64 on Oct. 13, 1964, in McMinnville.
He graduated from Linfield College (then McMinnville College) in 1921. He was president of the student body as a senior and class orator at commencement.
Whitman Hall, a student residence hall at Linfield, is named in his memory. It opened in 1965.
He was Linfield registrar and professor of English for 26 years, from 1938-1964. He was serving as chair of the English Department when he died.
During all or most of those 26 years he was Linfield Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) to the Northwest Conference (NWC). And, he also served as a NWC president.
Linfield Hall of Famer Ken Williams called Whitman "great" and "brilliant."
Impressed with Whitman's ability as registrar at Linfield, Ken decided as a Linfield student to become a registrar. And, eventually, he became Linfield register and FAR, too.
Avard Whitman was held in high regard by everyone at Linfield, including Linfield Athletics director, coaches and athletes.
Linfield’s 1961 Camellia Bowl football team gave him a Linfield varsity cardinal “L” in appreciation of his FAR work.
Ken Williams walked in Avard Whitman's footsteps. Ken is in the Hall of Fame. Avard should be, too.
