Affiliation: Alumni - 1960s
George Abed Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 16, 2014
George Abed (b. 1938), a native of Jordan, attended Oregon State from 1958-1962, graduating
with a degree in General Social Science. During his undergraduate years, Abed was
heavily involved with campus life and especially with student government, ultimately
serving as the school's first foreign-born student body president. After completing
a Ph.D. in Economics, Abed went on to a lengthy and multifaceted career in international
development and public policy, including more than two decades spent working for the
International Monetary Fund. The founder and former director of the Palestine Welfare
Association, Abed is also a former head of the Palestine Monetary Authority, which
he oversaw for two years at the invitation of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the
State of Palestine. Abed's interview focuses on his Oregon State years, his career
in public policy, and his association with development efforts all across the Middle
East.
Roy Arnold Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Adam LaMascus.
September 6, 2013
Roy Arnold (b. 1941), a native of Nebraska, completed both a master's degree and a
doctorate at Oregon State University in Food Science. For twenty years a faculty member
at the University of Nebraska, Arnold came back to OSU in 1987 and, over nineteen
more years, served in numerous roles including Dean of the College of Agriculture
and University Provost. During his tenure as an upper administrator, Arnold oversaw
many of the reductions that were put in place as a result of the passage of the Ballot
Measure 5 property tax limitation initiative. He also pushed forward a number of new
initiatives at OSU - the University Honors College, the Ethnic Studies department,
and a dual admissions/dual enrollment program with Oregon's community colleges were
all formed during his years as provost. His interview covers the breadth of his career,
focusing primarily upon his long associations with the University of Nebraska and
Oregon State University.
Terry Baker Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna and Chris Petersen.
June 25, 2014
Terry Baker (b. 1941) is among the most accomplished and celebrated athletes in Oregon
State history. Winner of the 1962 Heisman Trophy as the nation's most outstanding
college football player, Baker's Oregon State basketball team also reached the Final
Four of the 1963 NCAA tournament. That same year, Baker was named "Sportsman of the
Year" by Sports Illustrated magazine. Baker graduated from OSU in 1963 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Following a brief stint in professional football, Baker earned a law degree and enjoyed
a successful career practicing in the Portland area. Baker's interview focuses primarily
on his Oregon State memories, including his remarkable successes in 1962-1963 and
the tremendous attention that they garnered.
The Books for Birmingham Project
An interview with Carlton Olson and Alice Rader, conducted by Mike Dicianna.
March 20, 2014
In January and February 1964, Oregon State University students collected over 14,000
books for transport and deposit at the Miles College library in Birmingham, Alabama.
Miles College was the primary four-year college available to African-American youth
hailing from the Birmingham area, yet its library was so inadequate that the school
risked losing its accreditation. The Books for Birmingham project was a highly visible
instance of OSU student participation in the Civil Rights Movement. In this interview,
two students fundamental to the initiative, Alice (Elle) Rader and Carlton Olson,
share their memories of the project and of subsequent civil rights and anti-war activism
on the OSU campus and beyond.
Sue Borden Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
July 28, 2015
Sue Borden (b. 1939) is an Oregon State alum who completed her master's degree in
Mathematics in 1962 and who also worked as an early computer programmer for what was
then the Department of Oceanography. In 1988 Borden was hired to lead the SMILE (Science
and Math Investigative Learning Experiences) Program at OSU, an initiative seeking
to promote interest in the STEM fields and enrollment in college among Oregon's minority
and under-served youth. By the time of Borden's retirement from OSU in 1999, the program
had been implemented in ten communities across the state and was acknowledged by the
Clinton administration with a Presidential award. Borden's interview focuses on her
own academic and career path as a woman in the sciences, her active involvement in
local music organizations, and the history of the SMILE Program during her years as
director.
Darry Callahan Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
August 6, 2015
Darry Callahan (b. 1942) graduated from OSU in 1964 with a degree in Chemical Engineering
and moved directly into a career at Chevron that spanned some forty years. Over the
course of that time, Callahan worked as a research engineer, financial analyst, manager
and executive. At one time the president of Chevron Oil Bahamas, Callahan also served
as the chief executive at Chevron Chemical Company as well as the succeeding company
that he helped to merge, Chevron Phillips Chemical. Callahan has also been very actively
involved with the OSU Foundation, the OSU College of Engineering, and the OSU Board
of Trustees, of which he has been a member and vice chairman since its creation. His
interview focuses on his undergraduate years in Corvallis, his long and varied career
at Chevron, and his more recent activities with his alma mater.
Michael Driscoll Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen and Linda Richards.
October 9, 2013
Michael Driscoll (b. 1942) is a 1970 OSU graduate and an Atomic Veteran. Driscoll
spent four years in the Navy, much of that time on an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown.
During his service on the Yorktown, Driscoll was exposed to two nuclear blasts - Operation
Frigate Bird and Operation Swordfish - both detonated in May 1962 as part of the Dominic
I series of atmospheric tests. Driscoll is one of an estimated 400,000 U.S. military
personnel subjected to nuclear tests of this type. Much of his interview details
the specifics of his experiences as an Atomic Veteran, beginning in May 1962 and running
to present day.
Jim Edmunson Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
November 10, 2014
Jim Edmunson (b. 1951) graduated from Oregon State University in 1973 with a bachelor's
degree in Liberal Studies. As an OSU undergraduate, Edmunson was heavily involved
with student journalism during a turbulent era in U.S. history. As news editor of
the Daily Barometer, Edmunson coordinated coverage of anti-war protests and the murder of OSU student
Nancy Wyckoff, among other topics. In 1983, following stints as a professional news
reporter and editor, Edmunson began a new career as a lawyer and political figure,
serving in the Oregon legislature from 1987-1995 and chairing the Democratic Party
of Oregon from 1999-2007. His interview focuses primarily on his undergraduate experience
with particular emphasis placed on his activities as a student journalist.
Don Essig Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
May 19, 2014
Don Essig (b. 1938) attended Oregon State College from 1956-1960, graduating with
a degree in Elementary Education. Essig went on to a career as a public school teacher
and administrator, primarily in the Eugene school system, that lasted for three decades.
Since 1967, Essig has also served as the public address announcer for University of
Oregon football and men's basketball games. His interview focuses on his undergraduate
experience at OSC, his career in education, his experiences as the PA voice of the
Ducks, and his unique perspective on the storied athletics rivalry between OSU and
UO.
Memories of Hatfield Marine Science Center
A series of interview vignettes conducted by Mike Dicianna.
April 12, 2015
Established by Oregon State University in 1965 on Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon,
the Marine Science Center - re-named for Oregon Governor and Senator Mark Hatfield
in 1983 - is both a leading marine research laboratory and a center for instruction
of university students and the interested public alike. In April 2015, HMSC hosted
a reunion of past students, faculty and staff, four of whom contributed their memories
of the center on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary. These interviews, conducted
with Range Bayer, Warren Hanson, John Markham and Anja Robinson, touch on the evolution
and impact of the Hatfield Center as observed over multiple decades.
Darlene Hooley Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
February 3, 2014
Darlene Hooley (b. 1939) graduated from Oregon State University in 1961 with a bachelor's
degree in Physical Education. After fourteen years as a high school teacher, Hooley
entered the political arena, first as a member of the West Linn city council, followed
by stints in the Oregon legislature and on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
In 1996 she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's fifth district.
She served for six terms, retiring from political life in 2008. Her interview focuses
on her upbringing, her college years, her transition into public service and her experiences
in Washington, D.C.
Chet Houser Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
July 16, 2015
Chet Houser (b. 1948) is a 1970 OSU graduate in Agricultural Economics who was involved
in ROTC for most of his undergraduate years. Upon completing his degree, Houser was
commissioned into the United States Army where he spent twenty years working in various
capacities, including as a war planner. Following his retirement from the military,
Houser spent another two decades as a public employee for Oregon OSHA, the state Vocational
Rehabilitation Department, and the state Parks Department. His interview concentrates
on his undergraduate experience as an ROTC member during the escalation of the Vietnam
War; his career in the military; and his later work as a civilian.
Bob and Kaety Jacobson Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
January 20, 2015
Bob Jacobson (b. 1939) attended Oregon State as an undergraduate and member of the
Beaver basketball team, graduating with a degree in Business and Technology in 1963.
Three years later, he became the country's first Marine Extension Agent, working with
coastal fishermen and seafood processors, as well as state-wide policymakers, for
nearly three decades. His daughter Kaety Jacobson (b. 1981) is a 2003 OSU graduate
in Natural Resources. In 2005, she too began a career as a Marine Extension Agent,
operating out of her hometown of Newport. In their interview, the Jacobsons reflect
on their closely connected experiences as OSU students and Marine Extension Agents
on Oregon's coast, commenting on the similarities and differences that each has observed
over the decades.
A Century of Extension in the Klamath Basin
Five life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen and Geoff Somnitz.
July 2015 - March 2016
The Klamath Basin has been home to OSU Extension and Experiment Station activities
for more than one-hundred years. In July 2015, four interviews conducted at the Klamath
Basin Research and Extension Center traced this history, with particular emphasis
placed on the work of legendary Extension Agent Charlie Henderson (1892-1969), as
well as that of Extension Veterinarian Guy Reynolds (1920-1995). Each of these sessions,
as well as a fifth interview conducted in March 2016, touches upon the impact that
Extension and Experiment Station work has made on the region and provides perspective
on the challenges and opportunities facing the Klamath Basin today. Of particular
interest are the interviewees' thoughts on the water crisis that crippled the area
in 2001, making national headlines in the process. Interviewees include Linda Weider,
Sen. Doug Whitsett, Rodney Todd, Jean Pinniger, and Ron Hathaway.
Mike McCallister Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna and Chris Petersen.
June 26, 2014
Mike McCallister (b. 1943), a 1967 OSU graduate in Geology, represents the fourth
generation of his family to graduate from Oregon State. An officer in the United
States Navy for nearly thirty years, McCallister served tours of duty in multiple
locations throughout the Pacific, including Guam, Vietnam, Hawaii and the Philippines.
A trained oceanographer, meteorologist and geophysicist, McCallister has also worked
for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Snohomish County
Emergency Management Agency, and in the private sector, where he researches renewable
tidal energy. His interview focuses on his career in the military and his family's
deep roots at Oregon State.
Mina McDaniel Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 1, 2015
Mina McDaniel (b. 1944) earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from OSU in Food
Science and Technology. A sensory scientist, McDaniel returned to her alma mater in
1983 to lead the OSU Sensory Science Laboratory, overseeing projects related to beer,
wine, and Asian noodles, among many other topics. McDaniel also emerged as an important
advocate for women on campus, and filled numerous roles in this capacity during her
years as a faculty member. She concluded her OSU career as Director of Academic Programs
and Academic Assessment before retiring in 2006. McDaniel's interview provides a detailed
account of campus life and the Food Science student experience in the 1960s. McDaniel
also discusses the arc of her own career; the activities of the Sensory Science Lab
during her years of association; and her sense of the changing status of women at
OSU over five decades.
The OSU Extension Service Centennial Oral History Collection
Sixteen life history interviews conducted by Elizabeth Uhlig.
August 2007 - June 2009
In anticipation of its centennial in 2011, the Oregon State University Extension Service
interviewed several of its emeritus faculty in 2007, 2008, and 2009. These interviews
help to tell the story of Extension in Oregon over a fifty-year period following World
War II, and cover topics including agriculture, 4-H, home economics, energy, community
development, Sea Grant, communications, administration, and support. The interviewees
who are included in the collection that is presented here are: Roberta Anderson, Len
Calvert, Dean Frischknecht, John Hansen, Bob Jacobson, Duane Johnson, Alberta Johnston,
Harold Kerr, Glenn Klein, Linda Modrell, Owen Osborne, Jack Ross, Jane Schroeder,
Walt and Sally Schroeder, Greg Tillson, and Tom Zinn.
Al Parr Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
June 18, 2014
Al Parr (b. 1942) graduated from Oregon State in 1964 with bachelors degrees in Physics
and Mathematics, as well as decorations from the university's Honors Program. Parr
spent close to forty years working as a physicist, primarily for the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, where he specialized in radiometrics and optics. Parr
is also a rare book collector of consequence and a member of the OSU Libraries Advisory
Council. His interview focuses on his memories of Oregon State, his career in science,
and his passion for books.
Jon Shepard Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
January 23, 2015
Jon Shepard (b. 1941) graduated from OSU in 1963, earning a degree in Biology. Beginning
in junior high school and running through his years at Oregon State and beyond, Shepard's
chief professional and personal interest has been lepidoptery, the study butterflies
and moths. Based primarily in British Columbia from the early 1970s to 2014, Shepard
pursued a career as a lepidopterist by teaching at community colleges, filling in
for colleagues who were away on sabbatical, and engaging in contract work, all the
while pursuing his own research and collecting projects. His interview traces his
years at OSU and documents a few highlights of his many years of devotion to a more
detailed understanding of butterflies, moths, and other insects.
Eighty Years of Starker Forests, Inc.
An interview with Gary Blanchard, Bond Starker and Anna (Starker) May, conducted by
Mike Dicianna.
August 29, 2016
Founded in 1936 by OAC alum and professor T.J. Starker, the Corvallis-based timber
management and harvest company Starker Forests, Inc. has been managed by four generations
of Starkers, each of them educated in Forestry at Oregon State University. The model
of a successful family business, Starker Forests, Inc. now manages over 85,000 acres
of forestland and employees twenty people full-time. In this interview, company CEO
Bond Starker, his daughter Anna (Starker) May, and long-time employee Gary Blanchard
share their memories of the company and of OSU, while also detailing the field innovations
and business acumen utilized by T.J. Starker and his son Bruce in building the company
into a regional powerhouse.
Dale Story Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
January 9, 2014
Dale Story (b. 1942) overcame polio as a child and developed into an elite distance
runner, breaking the national high school record for the one-mile run in 1959. Story
attended Oregon State as an undergraduate from 1961-1965. During that time, he set
numerous school records as a cross country and track athlete, often training and competing
barefoot. Perhaps the pinnacle of Story's collegiate career came in 1961 when he won
the NCAA cross country championship, leading OSC to the team title at that same event.
The Story oral history interview focuses on his upbringing in California, his athletic
achievements and extracurricular interests at Oregon State, and his lifelong passion
for the outdoors.
Charlie White Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Dwaine Plaza and Natalia Fernández.
May 18, 2011
Charlie White (b. 1938) was the first African American recruited to play basketball
on scholarship at OSU, and only the second African American student-athlete in the
history of the program. White transferred to OSU after a three-year stint in the military
and two years at a California junior college. A dynamic guard/forward on the court,
White captained the Beavers during his senior year, leading to the 1965-66 team to
the Pacific-8 Conference championship and a first-round win over the University of
Houston in the NCAA tournament. A member of the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame,
White was inducted into the Pac-10 Basketball Hall of Honor in 2011. His interview
focuses primarily on his memories of campus and community life as a trailblazing African
American student-athlete in the mid-1960s.
Bryan Wolfe Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
October 31, 2014
Bryan Wolfe (b. 1944) is a farmer and rancher whose family has worked lands in eastern
Oregon for five generations. A 1966 OSU graduate in Agricultural Economics, Wolfe
has devoted his entire adult life to agricultural concerns, based primarily in the
Hermiston area. The founder of the Wolfe Feedlot and the W. Bryan Wolfe Ranch, Wolfe
has also served on the Umatilla Energy Cooperative Board of Directors, the Oregon
Board of Forestry, and the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. His interview concentrates
on the rich tradition of agriculture in the Wolfe family, his experiences as an OSU
student, the expansion and diversification of the family's agricultural operations,
and his own civic engagement both locally and regionally.
Russ Yamada Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
August 17, 2015
Russ Yamada (b. 1946), a second generation Japanese American whose mother was interned
during World War II, attended OSU from 1964-1968, earning a degree in General Science
with a focus on pre-dentistry. Following further schooling, Yamada returned to Corvallis
and established the city's first endodontic practice, which he ran for twenty-seven
years. He retired from the dental profession in 2014 having spent more than forty
years in the field. His interview focuses on his family background, including his
mother's experience of internment and his father's military service during World War
II; his own memories of a relatively placid OSU campus amidst the tumult of the late
1960s; and his reflections on his years as a local dental practitioner.
Mary Yates Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
May 15, 2014
Mary (Carlin) Yates (b. 1946), a Portland native, attended Oregon State University
from 1964-1968, majoring in English. In 1980, following a brief teaching career and
graduate work in Asian Studies, Yates entered the diplomatic corps, beginning with
an assignment in South Korea as Public Affairs Officer. Over the course of a career
in public service that ultimately spanned more than thirty years, Yates served as
U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Burundi, as well as National Security Advisor on African
issues to the Obama White House. She likewise occupied posts in the Philippines, France,
Zaire and Sudan. Her interview focuses on her memories of Oregon State, her diplomatic
training, the numerous positions that she occupied within the Foreign Service, and
the details of daily life while living abroad.