Interviewer: Ruth Kornberg
Interview Date: October 22, 2019
Location: Boyer residence, Portland, Oregon
Duration: 2:02:01
In this interview, Rober Boyer discusses his upbringing and early interests as a boy, his experiences in the Air Force, his move to and settling in Portland, several early jobs, his career as a dockworker, and his education at Marylhurst College. He then shares his early memories of the African American community in Portland, various community uplift projects that he was associated with, and his interactions with numerous Oregon politicians. From there he reflects on family life and changes he has seen from one generation to the next, as well as his memories of different Portland neighborhoods. The interview next turns its attention to Boyer's social life, his involvement in politics as a community activist and as a state senator, and his years as manager of the King Neighborhood Facility. Boyer likewise discusses his involvement with the Lutheran church, civil rights activism and demonstrations in Portland, gentrification in north and northeast Portland, and the gratitude that he feels for his family. The interview concludes with memories of Mel Renfro and other Black athletes in Oregon and Boyer's involvement in the Portland boxing community.
Robert Boyer was born in Philadelphia in 1939. A member of the only Black family in a predominantly Italian and Irish neighborhood, Boyer attended Catholic schools until his graduation from high school in 1958. As a boy, Boyer enjoyed fixing radios as a boy and decided to pursue a career in electronics. This led to his joining the Air Force, where he was eventually stationed at a radar complex in British Columbia. Following his discharge in 1961, Boyer relocated to Portland, Oregon, which became his home. In the years that followed, he worked as a car mechanic and salesman, a railroad foreman and, for the bulk of his career, as a dockworker. During this time he also studied at Marylhurst College, completing a Business Administration degree in 1977. Boyer’s last job was as manager of the King Neighborhood Facility in northeast Portland. With his wife, Judy, Boyer has also run a property management business for forty years. Shortly after retiring in 1995, Boyer served a one-year term as state Senator, representing constituents in north and northeast Portland. Boyer became politically active in the 1960s and has been involved in numerous civil rights, housing and community-building initiatives.
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Robert Boyer was born in Philadelphia in 1939. A member of the only Black family in a predominantly Italian and Irish neighborhood, Boyer attended Catholic schools until his graduation from high school in 1958. As a boy, Boyer enjoyed fixing radios as a boy and decided to pursue a career in electronics. This led to his joining the Air Force, where he was eventually stationed at a radar complex in British Columbia. Following his discharge in 1961, Boyer relocated to Portland, Oregon, which became his home. In the years that followed, he worked as a car mechanic and salesman, a railroad foreman and, for the bulk of his career, as a dockworker. During this time he also studied at Marylhurst College, completing a Business Administration degree in 1977. Boyer’s last job was as manager of the King Neighborhood Facility in northeast Portland. With his wife, Judy, Boyer has also run a property management business for forty years. Shortly after retiring in 1995, Boyer served a one-year term as state Senator, representing constituents in north and northeast Portland. Boyer became politically active in the 1960s and has been involved in numerous civil rights, housing and community-building initiatives.