Affiliation: College of Education
Tana Atchley Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
September 15, 2015
Tana Atchley (b. 1977) is a Modoc, Paiute and Karuk member of the Klamath Tribes,
who grew up in Sprague River, Oregon on what had once been the Klamath Indian Reservation.
After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, Atchley pursued
a master's degree in College Student Services Administration at OSU, completing the
program in 2005. In the years since, she has worked as a counselor and advisor at
Portland State University, and has been deeply involved with salmon camps and other
forms of outreach to Oregon's tribal youth. Since 2013, Atchley has worked as the
tribal workforce development and outreach coordinator at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fish Commission. Her interview focuses on her upbringing and tribal traditions; her
educational path and professional career; her engagement with young people; and her
reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing Native American communities
in Oregon.
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.
Geoffrey Brooks Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
February 18, 2014
Geoffrey Brooks (1947-2016), a native of Portland, attended Oregon State University
from 1970 to 1973, graduating with a B.S. in Elementary Education. While at OSU,
Brooks was heavily involved with student activist groups including the Black Student
Union. Following the completion of his studies, Brooks began what would become a forty-year
career with the Portland Public Schools. His connection with OSU continued through
his service on the President's Board of Visitors, the Office of Equity and Inclusion's
Board of Multicultural Advisors, and the College of Education, among other groups.
His interview concentrates on his undergraduate experience at OSU with particular
focus paid to student activism in the early 1970s and the circumstances faced by students
of color at that time.
Margaret Carter Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
April 18, 2016
Margaret Carter (b. 1935) is the first African American woman to hold elected office
in the Oregon legislature. First joining the Oregon House in 1984, Carter later served
in the state Senate, and was variously appointed as Senate President Pro Tempore and
chair of the Joint Budget Committee. In 2009 she left the Senate to work as Deputy
Director of the state's Department of Human Services, continuing with the department
until her retirement in 2014. Carter and her five children left their native Louisiana
in 1967, fleeing an abusive home environment. After obtaining a bachelor's degree
in Education from Portland State University in 1972, Carter enrolled in Oregon State
University's Portland-based master's in counseling degree program in 1973. Completing
this degree a year later, Carter found employment at Portland Community College, where
she worked as a counselor and as a faculty member for the next twenty-seven years.
Her interview focuses on her southern upbringing and her relocation to Oregon; her
educational experience at OSU; and a few highlights of her pioneering career in public
service.
The Extension Tradition in the Columbia River Gorge
Two life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen.
August 9, 2016
The Extension and Experiment Station traditions in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge date
back well over one-hundred years to the founding of the Mid-Columbia Experiment Station
in 1913, and the first employment of agricultural agents in Wasco County in 1916 and
Sherman County in 1918. In August 2016, two interviews were conducted with individuals
closely associated with the more modern history of Extension and Experiment Station
efforts across the region. Billie Stevens (b. 1951) is a retired 4-H Extension agent
who served Hood River County from 1985 to 2009. Sandy Macnab (b. 1953) is an OSU alum
who has spent nearly his entire life in Sherman and Wasco Counties, playing a major
role in a wide variety of area Extension efforts since 1979.
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.
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.
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.
Legends of OSU Gymnastics
Three life history interviews with Mary (Ayotte) Law and Joy (Selig) Petersen, conducted
by Janice Dilg.
October 2014
Gymnastics national champions Mary (Ayotte) Law and Joy (Selig) Petersen are two of
Oregon State University's most accomplished athletes. An Education major who attended
OSU from 1978-1982, Law won the 1982 national title in the floor exercise and finished
third in the all-around, still the highest all-around placing in school history.
A seven-time first team All-American, Petersen won two national championships in the
beam competition and another in the floor exercise. She graduated from OSU with a
degree in Psychology in 1991. Over the course of three interviews, Law and Petersen
reflect on their experiences as student athletes at OSU, sharing their memories of
going to school while training and competing at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.
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.
Ruth Jones and Rita Kilstrom Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
August 21, 2014
Corvallis natives Ruth (Martin) Jones and Rita (Young) Kilstrom, both born in 1938,
have been friends since kindergarten and attended Oregon State College together, graduating
in the class of 1959. Kilstrom is the daughter of D. Palmer Young, an early professor
of speech and theater craft at Oregon State College. Though Education majors, both
Jones and Kilstrom were heavily involved with the OSC drama program during their college
years. Their interview focuses on growing up in Corvallis in the 1940s and 1950s,
the OSC campus climate in the mid- to late 1950s, and the early years of theater arts
at Oregon State.
Phyllis Lee Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
January 28, 2015
Phyllis Lee (b. 1936) was the first Director of OSU's Office of Multicultural Affairs,
which was created in 1991 and charged with promoting diversity and improving the campus
climate for students, faculty and staff of color. A graduate of OSU's doctoral program
in Education and a former member of the university's Board of Visitors, Lee spearheaded
a number of outreach and curricular activities meant to promote dialogue on issues
of diversity, both in the classroom and in the community. Lee retired from OSU in
2003. One year later, President Ed Ray created the Phyllis S. Lee Award, which is
presented annually and honors a member of the OSU community who exemplifies Lee's
commitment and dedication to social justice and to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Her interview focuses on her education, her long commitment to diversity
issues, and her many activities as Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Janet Nishihara Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 2, 2015
Janet Nishihara (b. 1956) first came into contact with OSU as an undergraduate, majoring
in English Education and completing her degree in 1978. She returned to Oregon State
in 1980 as a master's degree student in the College Student Services Administration
program, a time period during which she also became involved with the Educational
Opportunities Program (EOP) at OSU. For more than three decades following, Nishihara
has played a central role in a wide variety of student support and diversity development
initiatives on campus. In 2009, after many years on staff, Nishihara was promoted
to director of EOP, the mission of which is to provide support for the personal and
academic development of traditionally underrepresented students at OSU. In her interview,
Nishihara reflects on her upbringing as a third generation Japanese-American raised
in rural eastern Oregon; discusses her multifaceted experiences as a student and faculty
member at OSU; and shares her perspective on diversity advancement at the university
from the mid-1970s to present day.
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.
Pat Reser Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
April 24, 2015
Pat Reser (b. 1938) and her family have made a major impact on OSU as donors, leaders
and high profile advocates for a variety of university initiatives. Pat and her husband
Al both graduated from Oregon State College in 1960, she in Elementary Education and
he in Business Administration. A public school teacher and mother of five children,
Pat organized Reser family life while her husband worked long hours building Reser's
Fine Foods from a family business to an international corporation employing more than
3,000 people. The Reser family later played a significant role in advancing multiple
goals important to OSU, including the renovation and expansion of the school's football
stadium, which was renamed Reser Stadium in 1999 in honor of a major gift made by
the family. The Resers later provided lead gifts for two signature projects of the
Campaign for OSU - the Linus Pauling Science Center and Austin Hall. Pat Reser served
as a co-chair of the school's capital campaign, and later was elected as the first
chair of the OSU Board of Trustees. Reser's interview focuses on her life and partnership
with her husband Al, her professional work in education and her volunteer work in
Beaverton and Corvallis, and her insight into the Reser family's key involvement with
development at OSU.
Darlene Russ-Eft Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
June 23, 2016
Darlene Russ-Eft (b. 1947) is a faculty member in OSU's College of Education who arrived
at the university in 2001 after spending seventeen years in the private sector. Known
today as a founder of the field of Human Resources Development, Russ-Eft has written
widely on program evaluation and the transfer of training. In 2008, Russ-Eft became
chair of the Adult Education and Higher Education Leadership discipline within the
College of Education and, for many years, she has been actively involved in OSU's
highly regarded doctoral program in Community College Leadership. In her interview,
Russ-Eft shares a series of recollections dating to her years in the private sector,
and provides her institutional memories of the evolution and growth of the College
of Education since the turn of the century.
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.
Lisa Templeton Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
August 6, 2015
Lisa Templeton (b. 1967) has been instrumental to online learning at OSU since its
first programmatic inception in 2002, and has served as director of the university's
Extended Campus since 2008. Under Templeton's leadership, OSU Ecampus has emerged
as a national leader in online education to the point where, in 2015, it was ranked
fifth out of three-hundred online bachelor's degree programs, delivering nineteen
undergraduate majors and twenty-two graduate programs to over 4,500 students. Templeton's
interview focuses on the institutional history of distance education at OSU during
the internet age, the inner-workings of OSU Ecampus today, and the environment navigated
by faculty who are teaching and students who are learning online.
Jo Anne Trow Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 13, 2013
Jo Anne Trow (b. 1931) enjoyed a long and notable career at OSU, where she held numerous
positions in teaching and administration; among them, Trow was the university's last
Dean of Women and its first female Vice President. Over the course of her career,
Trow spearheaded work to address numerous issues of inequality faced by female faculty,
such as salary parity. These discussions and activities eventually led to the formation
of a new infrastructure to support women on campus, including the OSU Women's Network
and the Women's Center. With her husband Cliff Trow, an emeritus professor of History
and retired state Senator, Jo Anne has also been very active in the Corvallis community.
Her interview focuses on her upbringing and education, her career at OSU, the advancement
of equality initiatives on campus, and her volunteer work in retirement.
Paul Valenti Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen and Dominic Cusimano.
February 24, 2014
Paul Valenti (1920-2014) was integrally connected to Oregon State University for more
that seventy years, beginning with his arrival on the Oregon State College campus
as a student athlete in 1938. A member of the Beaver basketball squad during his
undergraduate years, Valenti later served as freshman baseball coach, freshman basketball
coach, head basketball coach and head tennis coach, spanning a time period from 1946-1970.
He continued on as Assistant Athletic Director until retiring in 1982, and remained
an enthusiastic ambassador for OSU until his death in 2014. His interview covers
his upbringing in California, his school and coaching experiences at OSU, and his
recollections of many people that he met along the way.