Born in Hillsboro, Oregon on April 30, 1952, Tinker Hatfield attended Central Linn High School where he earned distinction as an accomplished basketball player, an All-American Track & Field star in hurdles and vaulting. He was an All State running back and Sunkist All American (Top 100). In 1970, Tinker was named State of Oregon’s..Read More
The Club brought the national spotlight to Portland with the most successful amateur boxing program in the country. The club had nine National Amateur Athletic Union Champion boxers. In 1961, Knott Street won the U.S. Team Boxing Championship. Two Knott Street boxers participated in the 1964 U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials and three participated in the..Read More
(born Feb. 24, 1938) Phil Knight graduated from the University of Oregon with a personal best in the mile run of 4 minutes 10 seconds. While studying for his eventual MBA from Stanford University, Knight wrote a marketing paper on the potential of manufacturing athletic shoes in Asia. While visiting Japan, he discovered Onitsuka Tiger,..Read More
(Oct. 5, 1907 – Jun. 27, 2000) Dorothea Lensch was named Portland Parks and Recreation’s first Director of Recreation in 1937. She envisioned recreation programs that would change the lives of children by exposing them to the possibilities provided through the arts, sports and other recreational activities. She designed a Recreation Division that developed a..Read More
(Sep. 8, 1918 – Oct. 22, 2017) For over twenty-five years, Rolla Vollstedt was a name to be reckoned with on the auto racing circuit. He was internationally recognized for his design and construction of racecars. His cars competed at the Indianapolis 500 for ten straight years, a feat unequaled at the time by any..Read More
Community members of Pendelton Oregon organized the first Pendelton Round-Up in September 1910. Operated by a non-profit organization, originally called the Northwest Frontier Exhibition Organization, the Pendelton Round-Up has always relied on the support of the townspeople and area ranchers. Some 500 volunteers assist in putting on the annual event. Ranked among the nation’s top..Read More
(Oct. 21, 1886 – Feb. 14, 1975) A Portland City commissioner for 14 years (1932-39; 1949-56), Ormond Bean was an expert in city planning and a leader in acquiring land for Portland’s city parks. He played a major roll in creating Normandale and Farragat Parks and in acquiring the land for developing West Delta Golf..Read More
(Jan. 25, 1933 – Apr. 20, 1995) For 20 years as sports director for KPTV Channel 12 in Portland, Jimmy Jones remained one of the most recognized figures in Oregon sports. The television voice of the Portland Trail Blazers for 13 years before taking a position with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1983, Jimmy covered virtually..Read More
(d. 1969) “Mr. Baseball” Rocky Benevento, the legendary Portland Beaver groundskeeper, was the frame that held Beaver Baseball together for almost four decades (1927-1966), His love of baseball fueled fans’ support for the game and admiration and respect for Rocky. Rocky never missed hospital visits (fans and players), boarded new players at his home, let..Read More
(Oct. 31, 1914 – Dec. 16, 2009) Joe Loprinzi left his mark on the state as a fitness and weightlifting coach and athletic guru enough so that the Multnomah Athletic Club named a wing after him. Born in Portland in 1914, Loprinzi grew up in an athletic family that included three brothers. As a 9-year-old,..Read More