Jim Bailey (Jul. 21, 1929 – Mar. 31, 2020) helped establish the middle-distance races as a foundation for the University of Oregon program during his years at the school, 1955-57. An Australian by birth, he won the NCAA title in the mile in 1955, then became the first runner to break 4 minutes on American..Read More
(Sep. 1, 1883 – Apr. 9, 1920) Dan Kelly won a silver medal in the long jump at the 1908 London Summer Olympics, just two years after finishing a 100-yard race in 9.6 seconds, which established a world record. Born in 1883, Kelly grew up in Baker City and attended the University of Portland (then..Read More
(Mar. 6, 1947 – Mar. 12, 2023) Among the athletic legends within the state, few have had the impact on their sport like Dick Fosbury, who revolutionized the art of high-jumping so much that the style was named after him – the “Fosbury Flop.” Born in 1947, Fosbury grew up in Medford and found his..Read More
(born Apr. 27, 1940) Dyrol Burleson was Oregon’s first great middle-distance runner, reaching the Olympic finals in the 1,500 meters in both 1960 and ’64. Born in Cottage Grove in 1940, Burleson won the national championship in the mile in 1959, ’60 and ’61, and was the world’s top-ranked runner in the 1,500 in 1961..Read More
(Jan. 4, 1914 – Sep. 22, 1989) A native of Portland, George Yerkovich, has combined distinguished years of service in sports with a notable career in politics. He was four times elected auditor for the City of Portland, attended Portland’s Washington High School and Southern Oregon College where he participated in three sports. At Southern..Read More
Jerry O’Malley served on many Amateur Athletic Union and U.S. Olympic committees. He was the Olympic Fundraising Chairman for the State of Oregon from 1963 through 1976. He was a founding member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and on its Board of Directors.
The most successful high school track and field coach in the state’s history, winning nine state championships and finishing second once from 1948 through 1957. Newland was an all-Southern Oregon Conference quarterback two years, an all-conference guard in basketball three years, and a two-time state high jump champion. Newland won numerous honors for athletics administration…Read More
Ruben T. Ross was a three-year track letterman and standout at the University of Oregon from 1926 to 1928 for coach Bill Hayward. He participated in the U.S. Olympic Track & Field trials in 1928. He was a co-founder of the Oregon Empire Athletic Foundation that evolved into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in..Read More
A native of Laurel, Oregon and a 1930 graduate of Estacada High School, Harold Taylor founded Taylor Electric Supply with a four-person staff more than 30 years ago and now employs 115 people in Southeast Portland. His company sponsors Junior, American Legion, and City League Baseball and Pop Warner Football. The baseball field at Rex..Read More
(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