Russell and Katherine Tegnell Scrapbook, 1931-1941

Lieutenant Colonel Russell M. Tegnell was born in Helena, Montana in 1910. In the years that followed, his family moved to Hillsdale, Oregon and he ultimately graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1928.

Tegnell enrolled at Oregon State College in 1932, majoring in chemical engineering. A very active student while at OSC, Tegnell served as President of the Memorial Union for the 1934-35 academic year. He was also a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, the Blue Key Honor Society, and the Alpha Delta Sigma National Professional Advertising fraternity. In addition, Tegnell served as the business manager for the junior class play, manager of the Oregon State Technical Record magazine, member of the Board of Directors for the Memorial Union, chairman for the 1935 OSC Homecoming, chairman of the OSC Associated Student Dance, and chairman of the OSC Socials Committee. Even with his busy extracurricular schedule, Tegnell still maintained high marks and made several honor rolls.

Tegnell completed his chemical engineering degree in 1936 and enlisted into the US Army in 1940, serving for twenty-three years before retiring in 1963. The nature of Russell’s work was such that the Tegnell family moved often, and at various points Russell and Katherine lived in Colorado, Alabama, and Germany before finally settling in Maryland with their two daughters. Russell Tegnell passed away in 1983, at the age of 73.

Katherine J. Smith was born in Dallas, Oregon in 1912. She graduated from Dallas High School in 1931 and began attending Oregon State College that same year. She initially majored in commerce, but switched to home economics during her sophomore year. She married Russell Tegnell in 1934 at Westminster House in Corvallis, Oregon.

Katherine received many awards for scholastic achievement during her years at OSC. Before even entering college, she recorded the freshman class high score on the English entrance exam and also received an award for her excellent transcription skills. She was a member of, and secretary for, the Sophomore Spurs Honor Division, obtained the Phi Chi Theta award, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Additionally, she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She obtained her home economics degree from Oregon State in 1937. She passed away at the age of 86 in 1998.