Monday, November 27, 2023

KEN ROGERS, Linfield College Class of 1951

 KENNETH DEAN 'KEN' ROGERS


(Photo taken in 2012 by Wildcatville.)

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Educator Ken Rogers dies in McMinnville at age 96 on Nov. 23, 2023

McMinnville N-R/News-Register 11/28/2023

Former McMinnville High School counselor and longtime Boy Scout leader Ken Rogers died Thursday, Nov. 23. He was 96. Services are pending, under the direction of Macy & Son Funeral Directors.

Rogers was named McMinnville’s 59th Man of the Year in 2014 as part of the Distinguished Service Award program. When his name was announced, he said he didn’t think he deserved the honor, at least not on his own.

He told the News-Register, “Anyone who is in a position to affect others’ lives also has been influenced and helped by others.” Rogers influenced the lives of many people through his activities with the First Baptist Church as well as the Boy Scouts and McMinnville schools. He was a member of the church for 70 years, according to Rev. Erika Marksbury.

A native of Idaho, Rogers came to McMinnville in 1948 after serving with the Army Air Corps/Air Force as part of the occupation forces in Japan. He earned an education degree from Linfield, where he played football for the Wildcats.

He started his career at St. James Catholic School; he also coached Little League baseball and served as president of the then-new Babe Ruth group.

He joined the McMinnville School District as a teacher and coach at Cook Elementary School, then moved to the junior high. He joined Mac High in 1956 to coach wrestling, football, basketball and baseball and teach P.E., health, social studies and English.

As a counselor for the last 20 years of his career, he assisted students in job exploration and work experience programs, as well as college preparation.

“My philosophy is that what you do with your education counts,” he told the News-Register in 2014. “The trades are very important. You don’t necessarily have to go to college.”

He retired in 1990, but continued substituting in the counseling department for another dozen years. Rogers worked with Scouting for more than 60 years, starting about the same time he became a teacher.

“Scouting is a very, very valuable program,” he said in the 2014 interview. “Any kid, even if they don’t go on to become an Eagle, gains something from Scouting — responsibility, health benefits, the ability to get along with other people.” He served as a board member and led both Cub and Boy Scout groups, including those in which his sons Gordon and Gregg participated. He and his late wife, Anita, also raised a daughter, Gail.

They had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well.


PHOTO: Ken Rogers demonstrates leathercraft to elementary school students during Pioneer Days in 2014 at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center.


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Ken Rogers died at age 96 in McMinnville on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 2023. For 70 years he was a member of McMinnville's First Baptist Church.


=KENNETH DEAN ROGERS

Ken earned B.S. in education degree from Linfield College in 1951 and a M.Ed. (Master of Education) degree from Linfield in 1953.

Teacher, Scout leader, friend

By Starla Pointer, McMinnville N-R/News-Register May 13, 2014. Minor editing by Wildcatville in 2023.

When a couple of past Man of the Year winners visited Ken Rogers’ house to tell him he’s this year’s recipient of a Distinguished Service Award, he told them they were mistaken. “You must have the wrong house,” the longtime educator said.

Although they convinced him he actually had been named McMinnville’s 59th Man of the Year, he still thinks he doesn’t deserve the honor, at least not all on his own. Anyone who is in a position to affect others’ lives also has been influenced and helped by others, he said.

In his case, he said, many people deserve a share of the honor. Fellow Boy Scout leaders, other educators and especially his family: His late wife, Anita, and his children, Gordon, Gail and Gregg, kept things together at home while he spent many hours and took overnight trips with the Boy Scouts.

“They deserve credit,” he said of his family members. “They didn’t ever complain.”

His family, by the way, includes two previous Distinguished Service Award winners. Anita Rogers was the 1990 'Woman of the Year.' Gregg Rogers was the Jaycee of the Year during one of the years when the McMinnville Jaycees ran the DSA awards.

A native of Emmett, Idaho, Rogers has lived in McMinnville since 1948. He served with the U,S. Army Air Corps/Air Force as part of the occupation forces in Japan, and then started school at Linfield College.

He earned his education degree at Linfield in three years, even though he was busy with many activities besides school: working to support his wife and new baby; participating in the Delta Psi Delta fraternity; playing football for the Wildcats until he injured his knee.

He also coached and helped teach health classes at St. James School during his college years. St. James served grades K through 8 at the time, and he coached teams that competed with other small schools from around the county.

Later, he would coach Little League baseball and serve as president of the then-new Babe Ruth group. He taught hunter safety classes, as well.

After he graduated from Linfield, McMinnville School Superintendent Fred Patton hired him to teach and coach at Cook Elementary School. He went on to the junior high, then to McMinnville High School in 1956. He coached wrestling, football, basketball and baseball over the years, and taught with P.E., health, social studies and English.

A high school basketball game official, for some games the other official was Paul Durham, Linfield athletic director and coach. 

His name often led to teasing. Students would ask him about “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” or, upon finding out his first name, ask him to sing “The Gambler,” “Lucille” or other Kenny Rogers’ songs.

“I’m not musical,” he said. “I played harmonica, and I whistle, but that’s it.”

The last 20 years of his career, before he retired in 1990, were spent in the counseling department. He was the career counselor, assisting students in job exploration and work experience programs.

The career programs were important and beneficial, said Rogers, who wishes they hadn’t been phased out. The programs “taught kids how to get along with people, how to work and go to school and still be part of things,” he said. “The students learned money management, interviewing skills, and they were graded like in any class.”

In the mid-1970s, he said, job programs gave way to a push for all students to continue their education beyond high school. He became Mac High’s college counselor and started the annual Yamhill County College Fair.

“My philosophy is that what you do with your education counts,” he said. “The trades are very important. You don’t necessarily have to go to college.”

When Rogers was first hired to teach at Columbus, he discovered the job came with an unofficial extra duty: He was expected to volunteer as leader of the school’s Cub Scout pack.

He readily agreed. “I’ve always been able to get along with youth and kids,” he said.

He continued working with Cub and Boy Scouts as he moved from school to school. He was on the local Boy Scout committee by the time his sons were ready to join the program.

Rogers remained active with scouting for 56 years, as a club leader, board member and representative to the Boy Scouts from his church, First Baptist.

“It’s a very, very valuable program,” he said. “Any kid, even if they don’t go on to become an Eagle, gains something from scouting — responsibility, health benefits, the ability to get along with other people.”

He enjoyed working with the other adults in the program, too, men such as Don Boudon. He worked with many of the other Scoutmasters for 10, 15 or 20 years, he said.

Among the highlights of his Boy Scout years were attending two national jamborees, one on the old Navy base in Farragut, Idaho, in 1967 and the other in Valley Forge, Penn., in 1964.

Attending the latter jamboree was an amazing experience, he said. He was part of a group of more than 200 scouts and leaders leaving Portland for a grand, 30-day train trip across the country, stopping in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities along the way.

Rogers, who worked as a substitute counselor for a dozen years after retiring, remains active with education and young people. This month, he is helping at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center’s Pioneer Days for fourth-graders from around the county.

“I teach them leathercraft,” he said. He joked, “It used to be a hobby, but I’ve forgotten more than I used to know.”

He also spends time with friends. He has coffee six mornings a week with them and frequently sees former students, as well.

And, of course, he enjoys seeing his children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandkids.

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ANITA MAE ROGERS
1928-2009

Anita M. Rogers; age 81; passed away on Sept 28, 2009, at her home in McMinnville, Oregon, surrounded by love.

In celebration of her life and her love of music, a memorial services will be held on Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 1pm at the First Baptist Church, McMinnville.

Daughter of Aubrey Purdue and Lillie Mae McNaught Gladish, Anita was born Feb 8, 1928 in Ontario, Oregon. She was raised and schooled in Idaho, graduating from Emmett, Idaho, High School.

She met her future husband, Ken Rogers, in Emmett in the eighth grade.

They married June 21, 1946, in Emmett, Idaho. Their marriage was for 63 years.

Anita and Ken moved to McMinnville in 1948 so Ken could attend Linfield College.

Anita was passionate about serving others and Ken and Anita’s love of God lead them to McMinnville’s First Baptist Church, where Anita sang in the choir for more than 50 years.

She was wedding coordinator at First Baptist Church for 25 years and was immersed in all its activities relating to youth groups and women’s service.

Anita was a member of the Soroptomist Club and loved making elephant ears at McMinnville Turkey Rama. She was a board member for Gallery Players and received the Jaycees 1991 ‘Woman of the Year’ Distinguished Service Award.

Community music was a passion of Anita. She was involved in and supported Linfield Chamber Music, Community Concerts and a variety of local talents. Anita enjoyed oil painting, playing the violin, traveling with her husband Ken and close friends, or just visiting over a cup of coffee.

Surviving her with love and honor are her husband Ken, sons Gordon and Gregg (Leslie); daughter Gail and brother Gerald (Betty) Gladish; grandchildren Vanessa (Todd), Jenny (Noe), Heidi (John), Keegan (Jana), Corey, Isaac, Jessica; great grandchildren Gabriel, Garrison, Brody, Bryce, Cadence, Maeson, Evan and Marlee. She was preceded in death by brother William Gladish and sister Donna Reynolds.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, American Heart Association or Hospice c/o Macy & Son funeral directors, McMinnville.

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During McMinnville First Baptist Church service on Dec. 23, 2012, Ken Rogers received the Boy Scouts of America "Good Shepherd Emblem Silver Award."  The emblem is a national recognition for adults who have rendered outstanding service to Baptist youth through their church and a national youth-serving agency.













Sunday, November 19, 2023

Linfielder David Lum celebrates 90th birthday in Astoria, Oregon, in November 2023




Gordon David Lum was born in Columbia Hospital in Astoria, Oregon, on Nov. 19, 1933.

David Lum’s 90th birthday celebration was held 1-4 p.m., Nov. 25, 2023, in Patriot Hall at Clatsop Community College in Astoria.

He graduated from Astoria High School in 1952 and from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, in 1957.

Shirley Lee -- attended Portland's Jefferson High School  -- and David married Aug. 17, 1958, at Trinity Baptist Church Portland. 

He competed in sports for the AHS Fisherman and the Linfield Wildcats. That includes football, basketball and golf.


David likes to proclaim the historical fact that he is the only Chinese left-handed quarterback in the history of both Astoria High and Linfield College.

He is the patriarch of Lum automobile dealerships in Warrenton/Astoria, McMinnville and Walla Walla.







 

 


Thursday, November 16, 2023

Miles Davis reflects on his five years leading Linfield

 


Miles Davis reflects on his five years leading Linfield

President says he hopes he's leaving university better than he found it

By SCOTT UNGER, McMinnville N-R/News-Register 11/17/2023

Although Linfield President Dr. Miles K. Davis announced he is stepping down two weeks ago, he remains busy conducting day-to-day operations from his Melrose Hall office.

“My ethos says that you do a job until it’s not your job,” Davis said. “I’ve been spending more time doing my job than preparing for my departure.”

The outgoing president is confident in the board of trustees and the direction of the university he is leaving after five years in charge in order to be closer to family on the east coast.

“The leadership team that we have in place, the members of the board that are there, I think we are set to continue to move forward,” he said. “I think we have clear direction, we have a strategic plan that was approved, it’s just what individual is going to be responsible now that I’m not there?

“Anyone’s able to apply for that position, if they’re crazy enough to want it,” he said with a laugh.

Davis sat down with the News-Register this week to discuss his tenure at Linfield, his goal of making the university a “regional comprehensive institution,” criticism that his time as president has been tumultuous, and the future of the college-turned-university that has seen growth in facilities and record enrollment numbers for first-generation students.

Davis spearheaded the name change to Linfield University in 2020 that also brought aboard masters programs, oversaw expansion of the nursing program with the opening of a Portland campus, and helped complete the largest capital construction project in school history with the opening of the W.M. Keck Science Center. Yet he doesn’t list any of those as his proudest accomplishment.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is that we are able to move in a more focused direction (with) students,” Davis said. “The reason that we changed to a university, the reason that we have a school of business and began to fully incorporate the school of nursing and fully incorporate the College of Arts and Sciences is that it allows innovation in those schools to adapt to the changing needs to students.”

Innovative programs such as Wine Studies and Sports Science and Analytics, providing the breadth of a liberal arts education (Davis points out the Latin meaning of liberal arts is “skills of free people”) to accompany a focus on applied fields such as nursing and business education and the First Scholars program, are examples cited in the change of direction.

“What we’re moving toward and why it is important for us to change these structures and do these things is we talk about becoming a regional comprehensive institution.”

Davis believes students should be prepared for the ever-changing landscape that accompanies technology and often asks how old the iPhone is to prove his point.

“In 16 years (smartphones) changed the way we do everything,” he said. “We call it a mobile phone, the last thing we do is talk on it, and whole industries have been created since then.”

He rails against the focus on workforce development, preferring a path of economic mobility for his students.

“I am having a real problem with the conversation that’s taking place across this country, and in Oregon in particular, where we just talk about workforce development,” he said. “What I’m talking about with economic mobility is having the skill set that allows you to either be employable or start your own business. That’s about solving problems, that’s not just about preparing somebody to go into an immediate job.”

As a first generation student himself, Davis saw the opportunity to change a diversity scholarship that’s only criteria was “not white,” early in his tenure.

“I saw that as a lawsuit waiting to happen,” he said.

The result was the First Scholars program, an award winning scholarship for first-generation students that joins mentorship and financial assistance.

“Not only did it increase the number of whites, particularly from rural areas that apply to Linfield, but it also allows us to increase the number of Native Americans, Black Americans and Hispanics who tend to be marginalized and underrepresented in society,” Davis said.

Last year, first-generation students made up 37% of the school’s undergraduate population.

Davis also cited the establishment at Linfield of a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a point of pride.

“It was amazing to me that this school had never had a recognized Martin Luther King (Day). It was state holiday, it was a federal holiday, but no one here thought to incorporate that,” he said. “That was meaningful to me because if you want to build an inclusive society, then you do that by acknowledging the contributions of all its people.”

Known for posting visionary quotes on Twitter and frequently citing thought leaders, Davis said he has a love of reading that stems from his childhood, when “books were my toys.”

He is worried about the lack of reading in today’s society and (quoting MLK) that many people are “willfully ignorant.”

“This is scary because if you haven’t taken time to read or explore, that means that someone that shows up that claims that they have simple answers for complex issues, you believe them, you follow them, because you don’t want to think about it.”

Davis’ tenure has been called tumultuous by critics for its frequent administrative changes, allegations of antisemitism on the school and Davis himself that resulted in a $1 million settlement with a former professor, and another pending lawsuit with the former basketball coach.

Davis brushes off the critics, saying sports coaches are frequently fired and it’s his job as president to bring in staff that can help achieve his vision for the school.

“There’s always a challenge when you hold people accountable and hold people responsible for their actions,” he said. “I have no regrets.”

“Is the assumption that everything should be status quo? What was status quo getting us? How would status quo move the institution forward?” he asked. “Higher education is often risk-averse, I don’t show up that way. I think that you have to take risks and be held accountable for the risks in which you take.”

“I’m responsible for the decisions I made, I changed administrative staff and I reserve the right to do that. Every president that comes in and leads the country brings in their own staff because those people can carry out their vision. I don’t know why it’s expected in higher education that I wouldn’t do the same thing here. Also coaches get fired everyday ... to say that ‘oh that shouldn’t happen’ or ‘everything should be stable’, I don’t necessarily think that, I think the only constant is change.”

An East coast native, Davis acknowledges his direct approach might have clashed with the culture of Oregon.

“I think some criticism of me is legitimate, I had to learn the ways of the Pacific Northwest,” he said. “This is the home of passive aggressive, and so my assertiveness can be interpreted by some as being aggressive.”

Another adjustment from the east coast is the racial demographics, and Davis doesn’t shy away from discussing race and his experience as the first Black president at Linfield.

Earlier this month, Davis held a forum with Linfield graduate and renowned surgeon and Professor Harold Tu, entitled: “Black and Asian: A Conversation about Our American Journey.”

Davis discussed his inter-faith upbringing as the son of a Christian and Muslim, the “soft bigotry” of low expectations and the uncomfortable racial history of Oregon and Linfield.

The point of the forum was to have an open dialog about a challenging subject, something Davis said needs to happen a lot more. He emphasizes “brave spaces” over “safe spaces” and defending your position without getting upset over ignorance or missteps.

“We create brave spaces by being willing to speak our truth and not speak our truth from a defensive position or a posture of attack, but speak our truth about trying to create greater understanding,” he said. “We have to produce resiliency in people where they are able to stand up and confront things and not take it as being hostile toward one another. This is how you create a civil society.”

“I just wish that we could get to that point in more places in society where we’re brave enough to say ‘this is what bothers me’ and own what bothers me as opposed to saying ‘you’re racist, you’re antisemitic, you’re Islamophobic, whatever title you want to use. Because we can have legitimate differences of opinion without being anti-something. It’s just a difference of opinion.”

Most times racism stems from unconscious bias, Davis said, which is why diversity at all levels of Linfield is an important goal.

“When you show up on campus and the only person that you see that looks like you is working in the kitchen or cleaning up the grounds, what image is it reinforcing for those that don’t look like you?” he asked. “If the only time you’ve ever seen a person that’s different than you is in a subservient role, it becomes harder to translate that person into an authoritative role.”

Davis has made several minority hires in his tenure and would like to see Linfield continue to pursue candidates from broad backgrounds.

“If you want to diversify faculty you have to go to where diverse faculty are,” he said. “There are universities on reservations, there are Hispanic-serving institutions that grant doctorate degrees, there are all sorts of things you can do if you are intentional about it, but we haven’t been intentional about it.”

Davis will remain in his role until a new leader is identified, estimating his tenure will end around the end of the year. He has been asked to create a podcast and is writing a book called “The Rise and Fall of American Higher Education and What Can Be Done to Save It.” A return to higher education seems unlikely, he says, unless he is approached to build something from the ground up.

“I probably will not do anything directly in higher education in the United States. And only because, I’ll just say this, I came here and did what I was asked to do, I think I took on the challenges. But I’m also getting older, it was not only stressful to me, I have to realize that I have a family that was very much impacted. That’s not good and I don’t want to go through that again. I don’t want to go in and be somebody’s change agent anymore.”

At first Davis said he doesn’t think much about his legacy, only what is written on his tombstone.

“All I ever wanted written on my tombstone, as long as I can remember, is that he made a positive difference in the lives of people. That’s all I want,” he said.

Expounding further about his legacy at Linfield, Davis relied on Dr. King and his famous “Mountaintop” speech made the night before he was assassinated.

“I may not get there with you, but I have seen the mountaintop,” Davis said. “I’ve seen what Linfield can become and so I may not be there when it gets there, but I also know that the foundation had to be laid.

“So I’d like to imagine that I somehow leave Linfield better than how I found it. I like to imagine that we put in structures, processes and procedures that allow the institution to move forward. (That) doesn’t mean that some people aren’t happy with the changes, because people are always unhappy with change, but are you better positioned as an institution to move forward? And if people can say that, then I’m OK; you don’t have to say anything else.”

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023

VIDEO: LINFIELD 1971 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAM ARRIVES AT PDX/PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

20231111_032114 from Wild Catville on Vimeo.


VIDEO: LINFIELD 1971 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAM ARRIVES AT PDX/PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

 

It’s the summer of 1971.

 

Led by first-year baseball coach Ad Rutschman, Linfield won the 1971 NAIA national baseball championship in Phoenix, Ariz., defeating Lipscomb (Tennessee), 9-8, in 10 innings on a hot Wed., June 8, 1971, afternoon.

 

The next morning, Thur., June 9, 1971, Linfield baseball flew from Phoenix and arrived at PDX/Portland International Airport.

 

This brief video shows the team’s arrival and Coach Rutschman being interviewed. See the video via this link:

https://vimeo.com/884203199?share=copy


Also, see the same video via this link:

https://youtu.be/4gShZe2cbps

 

Read more about the team in its Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame bio:

https://golinfieldwildcats.com/honors/linfield-athletics-hall-of-fame/1971-baseball-team/38

 

In the bio you will read about super fans Dave Hansen Bruce Baldwin, Tom Sutro and Phil Hankins. They appear at the end of the video.

 

Postscript: Bruce Baldwin said (in 2023) that (in 1971) Linfield President Gordon Bjork “loaned his big 4-door Chrysler and school's credit card, for gas only, to Dave Hansen and me. We recruited Tom Sutro and Phil Hankins to accompany us. After the championship game, the four of us drove all night (rotating drivers) back to Portland to meet the team's 10:30 morning arrival time at Portland airport. Somebody reported that we had to have averaged 73 mph to make the airport in time. A mob of family, friends, students (and us four) welcomed the team back.”

 

Go, Wildcats! 

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Whitworth beats Linfield in McMinnville for 2023 NW Conf football championship



Sat. afternoon 11 Nov 2023 in McMinnville. Whitworth beats Linfield 28-24 for NW Conf football 🏈 championship and automatic qualifier for NCAA playoffs. Whitworth has no losses this season. Linfield has one loss. Only way Linfield would have made playoffs is if the NCAA picked two teams from NW Conf and sent its second place team (Linfield) on the road in the opening round. That did not happen. Thx DW for part of bracket. Thanks to GH and TB for photos/videos.



Saturday, November 04, 2023

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Curious about NWC/Northwest Conference football history?




Curious
about NWC/Northwest Conference football history?

Info from the NWC Commissioner's office as of 11/1/2023.