Happy Birthday 2021 COACH PAUL DURHAM, Linfield College Class of 1936. Born 108 years ago in Portland, Oct 18, 1913, he died at age 93 in Honolulu on June 22, 2007.
(Wildcatville editorial:)
A statue/monument of him is near Linfield's HHPA/Health,
Human Performance and Athletics building. HHPA opened in 1989 at the corner of
Linfield Avenue and Lever Street.
HHPA is a well-designed and well-used facility which
serves the needs of a vibrant collegiate community. From when it opened its
doors to the present, the building has continued to have a generic name when a
street and athletics-related facilities on campus memorialize former Linfield
coaches:
• (Henry) Lever Street.
• Roy Helser Field.
• Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
• Hal Smith Fitness Center.
• Ad and Joan Rutschman Field House.
There is one person for whom HPPA should be named: Coach Paul
Durham.
Paul
Durham's name is on the building’s exterior on Linfield Avenue and it's inside
the building. But, the building is not named for him. It should be.
(End of Wildcatville editorial)
:::
Photo taken by Wildcatville on Oct. 9, 2021, during Linfield Homecoming. It shows Wildcat fans with large Happy Birthday Coach Durham Hawaii themed ‘picture postcard.’ The fans posed for the photo for Wildcatville. They have no connection to the name HHPA for Coach Paul Durham effort.
(Wildcatville editorial, too:)
Does Linfield do the “right thing” or the “money thing” about a name for HHPA? Paul Durham earned the right for his name on the building. Linfield leadership – hello Linfield Board of Trustees and Linfield presidents, past and present -- have ignored what’s “right” for more than 30 years.
Read more here:
http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2019/06/after-30-years-linfields-nameless-hhpa.html
HHPA OVER THE YEARS
1989 –In June 1989, Linfield’s new Health, Human Performance and Athletics (HHPA) building opens. On June 17, 1989, it is host of Oregon boys’ high school all-star basketball games.
1989 – On Nov. 4, 1989, HHPA dedicated. During dedication, it is announced gymnasium is named for Ted Wilson, a Linfield men’s basketball coach.
1991 – On Oct. 19, 1991, HPPA’s fitness center dedicated for Hal Smith, a Linfield track & field, cross-country, wrestling coach and p.e. dept. chair.
1998 – On Oct. 17, 1998, Paul Durham among six members of first “class” enshrined in new Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.
2006 (guesstimate) – Linfield Board of Trustees say “no” to naming HHPA for Paul Durham.
2007 – On June 22, 2007, Paul Durham dies at age. Born Oct, 18, 1913 and a 1936 Linfield grad, he was a Linfield coach (football, basketball, golf), administrator (athletics) and faculty member (health and p.e.), 1948-1968.
2014 – On April 14, 2014, Linfield Board of Trustees -- via Dave Haugeberg, board chair -- say “no” to naming HHPA for Paul Durham.
2014 – In June 2014, Paul Durham signage added to HHPA building exterior.
2014 – On Oct. 18, 2014 -- anniversary of Paul Durham’s birth -- Paul Durham statue/monument, funded by his Linfield players and friends, unveiled/dedicated on Linfield campus outside near HHPA. Event took place during Linfield Homecoming, before a Wildcats football game.
2021 – HHPA still not named for Paul Durham.
(End of Wildcatville editorial, too)
