Theme: Physical Education
Larry Bielenberg Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
March 21, 2016
Larry Bielenberg (b. 1955) was a student-athlete on the OSU wrestling team who competed
from 1974-1977. One of the most highly decorated wrestlers in Oregon State history,
Bielenberg earned All American honors three times and won the NCAA championship as
a heavyweight in 1975. Still the second-winningest wrestler in school history, Bielenberg
was inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named to the Pac-12
All Century Team in 2016. Graduating in 1978 with a degree in Health and Human Performance,
Bielenberg pursued a career in the pharmaceuticals industry as a technician and manager.
In a lengthy and wide-ranging interview, Bielenberg reflects on his hardscrabble upbringing
as one of ten children; the evolution of his wrestling career, both collegiately and
on the international level; the personality and influence of legendary OSU wrestling
coach Dale Thomas; and Bielenberg's career and family life in the years after wrestling.
Ted Cox Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Tiah Edmunson-Morton.
June 7, 2016
Ted Cox (b. 1947) is the owner and founder of the Old World Deli, a Corvallis institution
that has been located in the south end of the city's downtown district since 1977.
In addition, Cox is a former Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years teaching in
Sierra Leone and another two years as the national track and field coach in present-day
Belize. He is likewise an OSU alum, having completed his master's degree in Physical
Education in 1975, a time period during which he also served as the first women's
volleyball coach at Oregon State during the Title IX era. Through his work at the
Old World Deli, Cox became a pioneering figure in the local homebrewing scene, selling
equipment, providing instruction, and building community. His interview traces his
upbringing in California and his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer; his experiences
as a student and coach at OSU; the early years of the Old World Deli and homebrewing
in Corvallis; and the history of brewing in the city, dating back to the mid-1800s.
Erin Haynes Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
July 25, 2014
Erin Haynes (b. 1950) attended OSU from 1968-1972, during which time he both played
on and helped to coach the school's freshman football team, and also served as Senior
Class President. Following graduation, Haynes built a long career at Oregon State,
working in the Department of Admissions for eight years, the OSU Foundation for twenty-two
years, and the Alumni Association for two more. Haynes has also served as an advisor
to the OSU chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity for more than four decades. His interview
focuses on fraternity culture at Oregon State, campus life in the late 1960s and early
1970s, and Beaver lore throughout its history, including several stories of notable
Oregon Staters from the past.
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.
Sylvia Moore Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
March 31, 2015
Sylvia Moore (b. 1942) played a vital role in advancing women's athletics over a thirty-three
year career as a coach, official, instructor and administrator at OSU. Moore, who
at various points coached both the women's basketball and gymnastics teams, also served
as Director of Women's Athletics on two different occasions. She is likewise the
first woman to have worked as Athletic Director for the entire university, having
held that post as an interim appointment in 1985. Moore also volunteered as an unpaid
official for five different sports during her OSU career. Her interview focuses on
the early years of women's athletics at Oregon State, the implementation and impact
of Title IX, and Moore's activities both within the Athletic Department and in service
to other areas of the university.