MAC NEWS: McMinnville's/Linfield's Floyd McKay at Oregon Historical Society 6/7/2016

Friday, June 10, 2016

McMinnville's/Linfield's Floyd McKay at Oregon Historical Society 6/7/2016

Linfielder Floyd McKay spoke at the Oregon Historical Society, Portland, 6/7/2016.

McKay read from his book Reporting the Oregon Story (OSU Press).

He's a McMinnville High (1954), Linfield (1957), Maryland (master's) and UW (Ph.D.) grad.

McKay, whose parents were Linfield employees, is a former Linfield adjunct faculty member (communications). He is a professor emeritus (journalism) of Western Washington U.

McKay's career includes reporting and writing a columnist for the (Salem) Oregon Statesman daily newspaper and news analyst/commentator for Portland's KGW-TV.

He read from the book in Linfield's Nichols Library in McMinnville on 5/18/2016.

McKay and his wife, Dixie (Johnson) McKay (Linfield 1957), live in Bellingham, Wash.

Mac News production in cooperation with Wildcatville.

News from 'Mac,' McMinnville, Oregon

>--UFO photographed May 11, 1950. The June 8, 1950, McMinnville Telephone-Register got international attention for the photos. UFO festival is held in May in McMinnville.

>--Howard Hughes famous 'Spruce Goose' at Evergreen Aviation Museum.

>--McMinnville Tornado, June 13, 2013; Dust Devil, April 9, 2024.

>--Linfield College (became Linfield U July 1, 2020) -- the campus of which is home of the annual summer International Pinot Noir/IPNC Celebration. Its famous ‘Old Oak’ crashed to the ground Jan. 8, 2008.

>--Linfield Wildcats football team's "The Streak."

>--"Mac Plaid" blankets made by Norwest Fabrics, Inc., of McMinnville. (Out of business.)

>--Turkey Rama (started in 1960), with “World's Largest Turkey BBQ,” 1961-2017. McMinnville Chamber of Commerce "plans to end Turkey Rama, which had taken place in July since the 1960s." - McMinnville N-R 3/21/2023. Turkey Rama, "apparently laid to rest after a once-glorious but increasingly diminished 61-year reign as McMinnville’s signature festival.".-Turkey Rama returns for two days in July 2022, says May 20, 2022, N-R. --One day in July 2024 Turkey Rama, says N-R March 14, 2024.

>--Twila's English Toffee, founded in McMinnville in 1992, includes toffee with hazelnuts/filberts. (Moved to Lyle, Wash., 2017.)

>--Filbert Street in McMinnville recognizes the past and current importance of filberts (a.k.a. hazelnuts) to McMinnville. Said to be the best in the world.

>--Betty Lou’s food processing company makes healthy, natural snacks

>--"Walnut City" is one of McMinnville identities. The McMinnville N-R said, "Once touted ... as the future of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, walnuts enjoyed an abundant season for some decades in the first half of the 20th century." The 1962 Columbus Day storm blew down entire orchards. In 1972, a hard freeze killed still more. Walnut City (bowling) Lanes, Walnut City WineWorks, the Walnut City Music Festival, and the Walnut City Kiwanis Club.

>--Huberd's Shoe Grease Co., founded 1921. Its pine tar, beeswax and paraffin formula grease kept loggers' boots dry. Sold, it moved to Snowflake, Ariz., 2004. But, the new owner died in 2015 and the firm, with a newer owner, was saved from extinction and moved to Bennett, Colorado, in 2017.

>--Dr. Lucy Natural Skin Care Products, McMinnville, founded in 2009.

>--Log trucks motoring on 99W.

>--Great water to make an excellent cup of tea.

>--Aliza Almond Cookies (gluten-free, Keto-friendly) including ‘Almond Mac.’

>--Waxing & Raining handmade 🐝 beeswax goods