This is a story from the
Sunday Oregonian, Nov. 8, 1953. Ken Williams fondly remembered this game played Nov. 7 in Newberg, Ore., because he played for the Linfield JV football team. He and a friend each paid $1 to attend the game. Linfield had few players. At halftime Ken suited up and played the entire second half for the victorious Wildcats. "It was my best game in a Wildcat uniform," Ken said.
.......................
Editor’s Note
Ken Williams, a graduate of Weston-McEwen High School, was a member of the Linfield faculty from 1970 through 1998. In 2001, he was inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame. He died Monday, March 30.Weston-McEwen grad made his mark with Linfield athletics By Tim Marsh
for The East Oregonian,
Pendleton, Ore. Tuesday, March 31, 2009For 26 years, until 1998, Ken Williams '55, was Linfield's faculty athletic representative (FAR).
In a nutshell, he was responsible for accumulating information on each student intending to compete in an intercollegiate sport.
Ken Williams' work as FAR was far from the Wildcat sports spotlight. For example, he filed eligibility reports with every conference college or university and the district office. He worked on athletic eligibility of transfer students and on hardship cases. He collected data, analyzed it and produced reports. He attended practice sessions and games and matches. And more.
Ken says, "hardly a day would go by without some involvement by me" as faculty athletic rep. But, it had to be done and he did it well. Without extra pay and no work load credit.D
uring his tenure, he served four times as president of the Northwest Conference Faculty Athletic Representatives. Under his leadership, the conference dealt with a variety of issues including The College of Idaho leaving the NWC, Whitman College dropping football, women's athletics being added, financial aid standards, and the initial work of leaving the NAIA and joining the NCAA.
FAR duty took him off campus. The common schedule for the representatives was to meet the weekend before Thanksgiving and on Mother's Day.
His wife, Gail Williams, Linfield Class of 1958, says Ken attended to FAR duties "before work, after work and on weekends because there was not enough time during his hours as the college's registrar."
His efforts have been recognized over the years. In 1984, former Linfield President Charles U. Walker praised Ken's coordination of the Wildcat's three home games in the 1984 NAIA national football playoffs. Linfield won the title. For the skill shown by Linfield in playing host to football playoff games, NAIA officials complimented him.NAIA District 2 Meritorious Service and Linfield Alumni Service awards also recognize his skill and commitment to intercollegiate athletics and the college.
Ken's connection to the college started in 1951, when he came to Linfield as a freshman student from Weston-McEwen High School in Athena.
He graduated from Linfield in 1955 (B.S. business administration) and earned a master of education degree in 1962. He earned an education doctoral degree from the University of Wyoming through the competitive selection National Defense Education Act Institute and also took part in a year-long NDEA program at Michigan State University.
He worked for Linfield for a total of 34 years, starting in 1959 and ending with retirement in 1997. They were not consecutive years. During that time he spent some four years in public school education.
His jobs at the college have included being registrar, assistant to vice president for academic affairs and dean as well as acting academic affairs dean, interim academic affairs vice president and dean. He sas also alumni affairs director, Upward Bound director, special services director and Portland campus director.
While much is known about Ken's work for the college, less is known about his experience as a Linfield student athlete. He earned three letters in track (high jump, discus), played freshman basketball and a year of football.
Speaking of football, in a home game on Maxwell Field, Linfield was easily winning in the waning moments. He had not played. But, then Coach Paul Durham sent him in as a defensive end. Three-quarters of the way to the huddle a teammate, also from the sidelines, came up behind him and said, "Williams, I'm in for you." He did play a down in that game. And, he did play for the Linfield football JVs when they beat the George Fox varsity in that university's homecoming football game in Newberg. He and a friend each paid $1 to attend the game as fans. At halftime, because Linfield had few players, they found equipment, suited up and played the entire second half. Ken said modestly, "It was my best game in a Wildcat uniform."
In retirement, Ken enjoys attending Linfield athletic contests. He cheers on Wildcat players and teams. He had good training. As a Linfield student, he was a charter member of Linfield infamous "South Forty" basketball cheering section.Williams kept attending Wildcat games because, as his wife, Gail, says, "for the love of Linfield, Wildcat athletics and all of those involved."
............................
R
etired Linfield Registrar Ken Williams is honored Friday in Melrose Hall, where the college renamed the registrar's office for him. Chrissy Ragulsky/News-RegisterLeaving a Linfield legacy
Published: April 10, 2004 . With additional information and a photo added by Wildcatville in April 2009.
By STARLA POINTEROf the McMinnville, Ore., News-RegisterMost people at Linfield, and many in the rest of McMinnville, know Ken Williams, who spent more than four decades at the college before retiring six years ago. But Jeanne Cothrell has known him longer than anyone else - since he was born, in fact.
"He was just a cute little devil, full of vim and vigor," said Cothrell, Williams' older sister. "He was everybody's darling in our tiny town. He's still everybody's darling."
Williams, known for his sense of humor, describes himself as "a bad seed." But his wife, Gail, sees it differently.
"Ken's a beautiful person. He's such a sweet man, a gentle man, a kind and caring man," she said.
Although she admits she is a little biased, she isn't alone in her assessment. Linfield officials agree. So on Friday, they renamed the registrar's office in Melrose Hall in Williams' honor.
Williams said he always liked working with college students and his fellow staff members at Linfield. He was pleased to be able to talk with anyone on campus, from groundskeepers to the president.
"I always went all over campus. I tried to see people in their offices, their territory, rather than making them come to me," he said.
He chuckled. "That gave Norma and Phyllis fits about where I was," he said, referring fondly to former registrar's office staff members Norma Cochran and Phyllis Smith.
---
Williams and his sister grew up on a wheat and pea ranch halfway between Adams and Athena.
He was a good student and a multisport athlete, as was required in such a small school, he said.
He came to Linfield in 1951. A meticulous record keeper, he still has the letter from Paul Durham offering him a half-tuition scholarship - $200! - based on his academic and athletic record.
The summer after his sophomore year, he went home to help on the farm, as usual. He was plowing in the dust and heat when he suddenly wondered, "What am I doing out here?"
At that point, he said, he decided against a career in farming.
He thought about becoming a basketball coach, like one of his role models in high school. "But the townspeople got on his back," he recalled.
He also thought about the ministry. But he ended up majoring in business and pursuing an interest in accounting.
Avard Whitman, then Linfield registrar, was a friend and mentor in those days.
"He was a great guy, brilliant," Williams recalled. "I decided then to be a registrar."
The registrar's office keeps students' academic records for the present, the past and the future. The office also is responsible for graduation and for putting together a registration booklet so students can choose classes and sign up for them.
Williams sometimes called it "the NO office," since it was the only place on campus where people regularly heard the word "no." "No, you can't have that class. No, we can't change that grade. No, you're too late," he explained.
Saying no is OK, he said, as long as it's fair. "Besides, there were more yeses," he said.
Before Williams followed Whitman's example and became a Linfield registrar, he spent some time in the Air Force. The college tried to get the 1955 graduate out of the draft, he said, but it didn't work.
The Air Force took Williams and his new bride first to Texas, where he was an academic instructor, then to Morocco, where he worked in information services.
Back in the U.S., Williams returned to Linfield for a master's degree and teaching certificate, then taught school in Wyoming and Michigan. He came back to Linfield for good as an assistant professor and dean of men.
He became associate professor of education and Upward Bound director in 1970, then added the title of special services director.
Registrar
In 1977, he became registrar on a half-time basis; he also coordinated alumni affairs and continued as an education professor. Finally, a year later, he became the full-time registrar.
In the ensuing years, he also held other jobs as well. In addition to his registrar duties, he taught education. And at various times, he served as acting dean of academic affairs, directed the Portland campus or assisted vice presidents.
He also served on numerous committees. He chaired two searches for academic deans and helped with searches for new presidents, including Charles Walker and his successor, Vivian Bull.
He even chaperoned a group of students in Costa Rica one year. "Any time I got restless, I got another job," he said.
After Williams officially retired, he continued working for Linfield on a volunteer basis. In 2001, he raised money -- as part of the college's "The Defining Moment" capital campaign -- for a student study room in the new (it opened fall 2003) Nicholson Library, to honor the late
Mike Barrow, a Linfield 1968 graduate and former Linfield Wildcat quarterback (as of April 2009, he still held Linfield football
career and
single-season records), who
died in Vietnam while serving in the U.S. Army shortly. Barrow's tour of duty in Vietnam began April 3, 1969, and he died June 23, 1969. Those who donated to fund the study room were called "Dream Team" by Williams. See photo of plaque in study room.
A sports fan, he also continued his association with the athletics department. He had been faculty athletic representative, overseeing athletic eligibility for 26 years. And he was a key person in winning the bids to hold championship football games in McMinnville in the 1980s.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame for his efforts.
During his years as registrar, Williams sometimes called himself one of the short-timers, because two other people had worked there far longer than he. Smith and Cochran did a great job, he said, and they could remember all the students they had worked with - an advantage in record-keeping.
Smith and Cochran also moved smoothly from typewriter and computer punch cards to modern-day computers, Williams said, but he found it a little harder. "I wanted one to do e-mail, but I didn't get one for a while," he said.
Williams enjoys having a computer now.
His wife said, "He spends a lot of time on it. I'm so glad he has something that interests him at home."
The computer sits in his home office, which is decorated with the covers of albums produced by son Gregg, covers of magazines in which son Ken Jr. has articles and numerous plaques related to Linfield and athletics.
He also has a Pepsi advertisement created by his nephew. "I'm a Pepsi man," he said.
Musical familyBoth Williams and his wife enjoy music, although he claims that the only instrument he can play is the player piano.
Their four children all are musical. In fact, two are in the music business.
Gregg, the producer, has played drums on tour with Sheryl Crow and other artists. Brent plays and markets music. Ken Jr. plays guitar when he takes a break from his career as a neurological research scientist at Harvard University. Brenda, who works for the state of Washington, plays piano as a hobby.
"Gail sang in choirs, but I think the kids got it from our love and appreciation of music. And they certainly have educated us," Williams said.
Nowadays he and his wife enjoy newer groups suggested by their sons, in addition to attending performances by the Linfield Chamber Orchestra.
Williams also goes to ball games at Linfield sometimes. And he likes watching sports on TV.
He and Gail rent DVDs, favoring family movies, comedies and foreign films. They go to plays in Portland, too.
"I like to say I read, but I don't," he said. "We have no lawn to mow anymore and Gail does the flowers, so I don't have to do much."
After more than 30 years on a one-acre property on Westside Road, they moved into McMinnville recently. They like being closer to people and activities.
Above all, Williams said, he and his wife enjoy spending time with friends.
All three of these were probably bought at the Linfield Bookstore by a Linfield 1970 grad while the grad attended Linfield, 1966-1970.The post card has not date, but notice in the upper right hand corner the college's baseball field at its old location before it was moved closer to Maxwell Field. The button shows an interesting version of the Wildcat. The decal is more familiar. A slight variation of it appears on the Linfield football team helmets.
Coach John F. Dillin (third from the left) poses with 1970 Linfield Golf Team members (left to right) Kent Scott, Mike Conklin, Dave Greig, Charlie Woods, Lance Madenwald and Steve Miyasaka. Photo -- taken by Tim Marsh at the Bayou Golf Course outside of McMinnville – appeared in the 1970 Oak Leaves. By the way, according to its Website, the Bayou was established in 1964.
Question- What son of a Linfield president served as a coach for the Wildcats?
After Williams officially retired, he continued working for Linfield on a volunteer basis. In 2001, he raised money -- as part of the college's "The Defining Moment" capital campaign -- for a student study room in the new (it opened fall 2003) Nicholson Library, to honor the late Mike Barrow, a Linfield 1968 graduate and former Linfield Wildcat quarterback (as of April 2009, he still held Linfield football career and single-season records), who died in Vietnam while serving in the U.S. Army shortly. Barrow's tour of duty in Vietnam began April 3, 1969, and he died June 23, 1969. Those who donated to fund the study room were called "Dream Team" by Williams. See photo of plaque in study room.
See this Yakima Herald-Republic daily newspaper video from Colton’s state championship game win on Feb. 28, 2009, in Yakima’s SunDome. The Wildcats beat St. John-Endicott 48-45 in the Washington Class 1B girls' state tournament.
