(Nov. 15, 1914 – Sep. 20, 2002) Athlete…sports official…organizer…journalist. The tags all fit when applied to Salem’s own Orland “Al” Lightner. Born in Colorado, he attended grade and high school in Stockton, California and later attended Compton Junior College where he captained the baseball team which competed against major league great Jackie Robinson. He signed..Read More
(May 18, 1886 – Aug. 15, 1975) L.H. Gregory was the sports editor and a columnist for the Oregonian for 52 years from 1921-1973. He has been honored by the National Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Times in 1955, won the Amos Voorhies Award by Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association in 1962, and countless sports writing..Read More
Tournament Golf Foundation is a group of 40 area businessmen and their wives that have been bringing the LPGA Tournament to Portland for over 16 years. The organization has raised $1.4 million in prize money and over $600,000 in charity contributions since 1972. This group works every year to involve sponsors, sell tickets, and run..Read More
(Apr. 26, 1903 – Apr. 22, 1991) Murray Kemp was the Founder, General Manager, President, and Chairman of Multnomah Kennel Club since 1933, when it opened as Fairview Park. “The House That Murray Built” was renamed Murray Kemp Kennel Club in 1978. He was recognized nationally for his contributions to greyhound racing, many innovations to..Read More
You know him these day as “The Godfather.” That is an appropriate moniker for Dwight Jaynes (b. Nov 13, 1947) after 25 years as a Portland newspaperman and, now a multi-platform journalist, still revered for telling it like it is. He is Rose City by birth, attended Cleveland High School and Portland State University, fortunate..Read More
For more than 45 years in the newspaper business – more than 28 as a sports columnist – George Pasero (Apr 10, 1917 – Mar 6, 1997) remains not only widely respected by his professional colleagues, but a beloved friend to most people who have known him during his career. The son of Italian immigrant..Read More
(Aug. 6, 1904 – Apr. 22, 1990) Leo Harris was the first athletic director at the University of Oregon and from 1947 to 1968 held that position. Harris was a financial wizard. Among his major accomplishments at Oregon were the construction of Autzen Stadium (completely paid for on opening day), improvements at Howe Field and..Read More
(March 5, 1925 – October 24, 2016) As a long time businessman & philanthropist in the Portland area, Harry Merlo has had a hand in the local sports world on high school, collegiate, and professional levels. With specific ties to tennis & soccer, he’s provided key infrastructure and financial support that have kept our athletes..Read More
(1921 – 1983) A legend of Oregon sports writing, Leo Davis had the talent to be both cruel and kind, long before punditry and hyperbole held center stage in sports journalism. The California native anchored the sports department at the Redmond Spokesman, in Redmond, Oregon, from 1949-1960 before beginning a memorable 23 year run as..Read More
(Born November 22, 1933) Morris “Bucky” Buckwalter went from LaGrande to the top of the pro basketball world through a career as a player, coach and then scout and executive, helping develop the Blazers roster that reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and ’92. Buckwalter grew up in LaGrande and played collegiately at the University..Read More