McMinnville High School 'Class of 1958' 65th reunion May 31, 2023

Mac High School’s ‘Class of 1958’ celebrated its 65th reunion in McMinnville, May 31, 2023. 

 

Photos taken at Golden Valley, lunch location.

'Recognizing the good': Awards honor community contributions

'Recognizing the good': Awards honor community contributions

By Starla Pointer, McMinnville N-R/News-Register, May 16, 2023

Stan Primozich, last year’s McMinnville Man of the Year, prepared to honor this year’s winner, Gene Zinda, at the Distinguished Service Awards banquet Wednesday night.

He lifted a thick sheaf of paper, indicating how many pages would be needed to list all of Zinda’s contributions over the last 60-plus years.

“Gene has given so much to this community and to all of us,” Primozich said.

The same could be said of all the winners honored at the DSA event: Junior Citizen Deven Paolo; Outstanding Farmers Marv and Georgia Bernards; and Outstanding Educator Kindra Butler; and Marianne Mills, Woman of the Year.

Woman of the Year was the final award presented at the banquet, hosted by the McMinnville City Club. Chelsey Nichol of the City Club summed up the evening by saying, “I’m thankful to live in a world with Marianne Mills in it … in a town with all our winners in it.”

The 2022 McMinnville Distinguished Service Awards event followed a tradition started by the McMinnville Jaycees in the mid-1950s.

After the Jaycees chapter closed, the DSA program was continued by a committee of previous winners, then by the Odd Fellows. This was the McMinnville City Club’s first year as host.

The evening’s keynote speaker, Dr. Scott Gibson, discussed the role volunteerism plays in building relationships and community.

Working together sparks understanding among people, he said. They may have different political or religious views, for instance, but they are working on a common goal.

We need to be open to diverse viewpoints, Gibson said. That will help counteract the polarization and separation that currently exists in this country.

Anger, lies, greed and the media try to divide us, he said; we need to combat that with community, service and friendship.

“We need to get together and listen to each other again,” he said. “Start by recognizing the good in people, even if they’re different from us.”

A longtime member of the McMinnville Lions Club, Gibson called for “re-energizing” clubs and organizations that perform community service. “Make service cool again,” he said. “Do something worthwhile while enjoying the company of others.”

The DSA winners did that, he said, and others should follow their lead.

Gibson prepared written remarks prior to the banquet, but almost lost them when a spill at his banquet table threatened to tear the printed pages to smithereens.

His notes saved, he opened with a joke about the growing presence of artificial intelligence. “I’m the last human speaker before ChatGPT takes over,” he quipped, adding — presumably joking — that computers may even someday take over his job as a physician who performs cancer screenings.

During the awards presentation, Primozich listed many of Zinda’s history of accomplishments: managing Skyline Manufacturing; founding the Rotary art and wine auction that supported scholarships and Rotary Nature Park; serving on the McMinnville Water & Light Commission for 15 years and on other boards such as the McMinnville Downtown Association.

He also led the Linfield Partners in Progress campaign; expanded the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry while president of that organization; and started a program to provide shoes for children at his Windemere real estate office.

The Man of the Year award came as a “total surprise,” Zinda said.

He said local residents had inspired him when he came to McMinnville in 1959. “I learned to give back to the community,” he said.

Woman of the Year Mills also has a long list of accomplishments in McMinnville, said Ronni Lacroute, the 2022 winner who presented this year’s award.

A 1972 Linfield graduate, Mills is a longtime educator who started her career at Amity High School and retired from Mac High after serving as one of the first female Oregon high school athletic directors. She went on to work for McMinnville Habitat for Humanity for six years, three as director.

After retiring from public schools, Mills also supervised student teachers at Linfield for 10 years and taught pickleball classes. She served on the McMinnville Public Library Foundation Board and First Baptist Church board, volunteered at Memorial Elementary School, where her granddaughters go to school, helped with elections, and other community committees.

As a P.E. teacher and coach in the 1970s, Mills worked with some of the first competitive high school sports for girls. “Girls didn’t have access to high-level coaching then,” Lacroute said. “Marianne committed to providing that for them.”

She was inducted into the Amity Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 for those efforts.

As a counselor, tennis coach and AD at Mac High, Mills was “a leader in a field where women haven’t always had a role,” Lacroute said.

Mills said helping girls achieve on the athletic field was very important to her. “It was so rewarding seeing them have opportunities.”

She noted how she has kept in touch with many of her former students and players. “I like people. I valued relationships,” she said. “I think that shines through in everything I’ve done.”

Friends were among people who congratulated her after she was surprised to learn she’d been named Woman of the Year.

A member of a family with deep ties to McMinnville, Mills grew up in Waldport and came to Yamhill County for college. She said she’s glad she stayed in the area.

“This has been a great place to call home. So many opportunities,” she said in her acceptance speech.

“To live a rich life, you need to be involved with others,” she said. “I have been richly blessed to be a member of this community.”

Paolo, honored as Junior Citizen, has been active in McMinnville, especially in supporting young people learning about careers in the trades, since he and his brother, Keath, started Solid Form Fabrication. They host interns and contribute to Mac High’s career tech programs.

Deven Paolo also spearheaded the creation of a foundation that provides scholarships to students who plan to study trades. The goal is for it to give out $20,000 annually.

“College is not for all, and high schools didn’t have shop classes anymore,” he said of how he became interested in helping students.

He’s pleased by the results, he said. “The impact you see … it’s always cool to see success stories.”

He recalled his own inspirations for career and community service, including Larry Judd, who taught drafting and woodshop at Yamhill Carlton High School, and Coach Dean Heuberger.

In accepting the DSA honor, Paolo also thanked his family for its support: father Murray Paolo, who also set an example; his brother and business partner, Keath; and especially his wife, Randi, and children Kasen, a high school junior, and Ellia, a freshman.

Young Educator of the Year Butler is in her fourth year of teaching kindergarten at Wascher Elementary School in Lafayette.

She always knew she wanted to be a teacher, she said. Working at the Bear Hugs preschool as a McMinnville High School student only strengthened her resolve.

“I’m big on relationships and connections,” she said. “I love to build relationships with students, and every day I see I’m making a difference in their lives.”

The Bernards, Farmers of the Year, own and run Bernards Farm west of McMinnville. They took over the family farm and Wallace Berry Farm in January 2022.

They grow crops that they sell at farmers markets, supply to restaurants and offer at a farmstand in the vintage barn on their property on Highway 18.

Bernards Farm has been selling at the McMinnville Farmers Market for 22 years. Marv serves on the MDA’s market committee.

He joked that his role on the farm is “playing in the dirt.” His wife does all the rest, he said.

The role women play in farming is too often forgotten, Marv Bernards said. His mother, Chris, “built Bernards Farm,” which started by selling corn, then added bedding plants and hanging baskets. Now Georgia “keeps the engines of the farm running,” he said.

Both he and his wife said they are honored to be recognized — and honored to be part of the McMinnville community.

……………..

 

FRONT PAGE PHOTO - N-R May 16, 2023, print edition: Marianne Mills walks through the crowd of supporters at the Distinguished Service Awards event May 10 to receive her Woman of the Year award. Mills has been a teacher, coach, athletic director, supervisor of student teachers and director of McMinnville Habitat for Humanity, to name just a few of her accomplishments. (Photo by Rachel Thompson/McMinnville N-R/News-Register

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Linfielder Marianne Mills saluted in June 2023 issue of FBC Tidings. Congratulations!

 

McMINNVILLE Distinguished Service Awards recipients (as of May 11, 2023)

 

McMINNVILLE

Distinguished Service Awards

As of May 11, 2023

 

In 1955, the McMinnville Jaycees Chapter was only one year old. The members were intrigued with a program promoted by the U.S. Jaycees recognizing service to the community. 

In the spring of 1956, the first McMinnville Distinguished Service Award Banquet was held in recognition of the last line of the Jaycee Creed: “That service to humanity is the best work of life”   

In 2013, a group of community leaders took over the organization of the banquet. 

 

In 2021 The McMinnville City Club took over the event so that it may continue in the spirit of volunteerism in our community.

 

OUTSTANING EDUCATOR

Bill Moss 1974

Ron Wilkinson 1975

Carolyn Rice 1976

Debra Johansen 1977

Donald Hicks 1978

Veneta Volpp 1979

Charles Bierderman 1980

Anne Towsley 1981

Lorna Miller/Mary Ringer 1982

Allison Perrin Autencio 1983

Barry Lilly 1984

Kathy Cerwinske 1985

Lan Carpenter 1986

Jeff Autencio 1987

Rick Carpenter 1988

Jim Ray 1989

Sheila Lenker 1990

Ursula Dye 1991

Marilyn Salter 1992

Andrea Payne 1993

Shane Kimura 1994

Boyd Keyser 1995

H.D. Weddel 1996

Steve Tillery 1997

Mark Lukehart 1998

Jody Gerritsen Villasenor 1999

Tony Vicknair 2000

Kathy Baird 2001

Diane Massey 2002

Judy Catt 2003

Beth Downs 2004

Dixie Seibel 2005

Kathleen Fraser 2006

Jeff Templeton 2007

Veronica Chase 2008

Jennifer Sipprell 2009

Kerrie Savage 2010

Cory Ekland 2011

Angela Newport 2012

Dave Larson 2013

Reid Kimura 2014

Eric Svec 2015

Kelly Carlso1 2016

Suzanne Sayles 2017

Molly Bousquest 2018

Jerod Harney1 2019

Emily Wilcox 2021

Kendra Butler 2022

 

OUTSTANDING FARMERS

Ron Pittman 1974

Randy Coleman 1975

Dave Cruickschank 1976

Gordon Dromgoole1977

John Rossner 1978

John Kirsch 1979

Don Christensen 1980

Phil Olson 1981

Lee Schrepel 1982

John Nyberg 1983

John Scharf 1984

John Stuller 1985

Dan Bunsen 1986

Dave Kaur 1987

Mark Hurst 1988

Eugene Carson 1989

Mark Schrepel 1980

Tim Pfeifer 1991

Scott Bernards 1992

Clark Ellingson 1993

Gary Johnson 1994

Jerry Grauer 1995

Jennifer Redmond-Noble 1996

Lester Sitton 1997

Helle Ruddenklau 1998

Lucien Gunderman 1999

Helle Ruddenklau 1998

Lucien Gunderman 1999

Robert May 2000

Bruce McKee 2001

Bruce Ruddenklau 2002

Zach Christensen 2003

Ryan Jones 2004

Pieper Sweeney 2005

Ben VanDyke 2006

Casey Aschim 2097

Katie & Casey Kulla 2008

Jamie Bansen, Robert Kircher 2009

Joel Slegers 2010

Brian Wilson 2011

Andre & Sheila Jaillet 2012

Aren Hinely 2013

Barbara Boyer 2014

Sarah Lynch & Matthew Willis 2015

Jared & Christine Anderson 2016

Eric & Jose Fitzgerald 2017

Crystal & Brad Fuerst 2018

Even Pull Farm 2019

Gratefull Gardens 2021

Bernards Farm 2022

 

JUNIOR CITIZEN

James Craig 19655

Glen Macy 1956

Joe Dancer 1967

Alan Jones 1958

Mike Hamilton 1959

Wayne Roberts 1960

Earle Hunter 1961

Ken Twedt 1962

Robert Sterling 1963

Drannan Hamby 1964

Kurt Rossman 1965

Roger Wood 1966

Lyn Swanson 1967

Don Blensly 1968

Dave Haugeberg 1969

Frank Maynard 1970

Gordon Hall 1971

Mike Hafner 1972

Skip Huwaldt 1973

Denis Walker 1974

Hunt Compton 1975

Gary Rueter 1976

Cathryn Haugeberg 1977

Timothy Duerfeldt 1978

Patti Compton 1979

Steve Macy 1980

Jeb Bladine/Don Dix 1981

Claudia Huwaldt 1982

Jann Tankersly 1983

Rick Lee 1984

Chris Browne 1985

Rick Olson 1986

Ken Van Cleave/Kim Morris 1987

Molly Peterson 1988

Walter Gowell 1989

Ben Frum 1990

Teresa Smith 1991

Doug & Jayne Hurl 1992

Tony Browne 1993

Scott Macy 1994

Carol Prause 1995

Harold Washington 1996

Greg Wildhaber 1997

Doug Beck 1998

Celia Williams 1999

Dale Collver 2000

David Faxon 2001

Nicole Obrist 2002

Andrea LaRue 2003

Erin Stephenson 2004

Brian Owen 2005

Nicole Obrist 2006

Dianne Haugeberg Shea 2007

Eric & June Wolff 2008

Rene’ Bittle 2009

Kristi Mackay 2010

Randee Taylor 2011

Brooke Anderson 2012

Kris Moshier 2013

Zack Geary 2014

Kyle Faulk 2015

Chelsey Nichol 2016

Jennifer Feero 2017

Heather Miller 2018

Remy Drabkin 2019

Janet Sasaki 2021

Deven Paolo 2022

 

WOMEN OF THE YEAR

Gretchen Davis 1973

Marilyn Craig 1974

Eleanor Macy 1975

Gertrude Taylor 1976

Meg Bladine 1977

Minnetta Coburn 1978

Helen Taylor 1979

Patsey Miller 1980

Roba Rathkey 1981

Marjorie Moore 1982

Rose Marie Caughran 1983

June Asbury 1984

Jean Dale 1985

Mary Henderson 1987

Lea New 1988

Cherie Walker 1989

Anita Rogers 1990

Marilyn Crouser 1991

Wynn Perry 1992

Marilyn Dell 1993

Carolyn Granger 1994

Mary Baker 1995

Rae Anderson 1996

Irene Baker 1997

Toni Chodrick 1998

Sue Buel 1999

Rosemari Davis 2000

Candy Gormley 2001

Kathleen Bernards 2002

Cathy Haugeberg 2003

Vivian Bull/Cassie Sollars 2004

Janis Branch 2005

Chris Browne 1006

Linda Schwichtenberg 2007

Barbara Brewer Nelson 2008

Lucy King 2009

Sherl Hill 2010

Kellie Menke 2011

Pam Watts/Kathy Cabe 2012

Consuelo Christianson 2013

Jody Christiansen 2014

Gloria Lutz 2015

Mary Martin 2016

Debbie Harmon Ferry 2017

Erin Stephenson 2018

Teresa Smith 2019

Ronni Lacroute 2021

Marianne Mills 2022

 

MAN OF THE YEAR

Ron Eborall 1957

Rev. S. James Osborne 1958

Rudy Windishar 1959

Eugene Marsh 1960

Milt McGuire 1961

Ralph & Frank Wortman 1962

Ivan Person 1963

Dr. Harry Dillin 1964

Paul Durham 1965

Roy Helser 1966

Rex Haynie 1967

Fern Ramsey 1968

Margaret Reavis 1969

Harper Jamison 1970

Gale Vinton 1971

Cliff & Virginia Elliott 1972

Dave Davison 1973

Dr. J.A. Jonasson 1974

Dr. Harold Elkinton 1975

Glen Macy 1979

Charles Colvin 1980

A.E. “Al” Hurl 1981

Ad Rutschman 1982

Walter Dyke 1983

Delford Smith 1984

Win Dolan 1985

Joe Dancer 1986

Norm Scott 1987

Dr. Charles Walker 1988

James Osborne 1989

Vincent Mekkers 1990

Fred Koch 1991

Dave Haugeberg 1992

Bill Wilson 1993

Ray Kauer 1994

Waldo Farnham 1995

Milt Robins 1996

Paul Barber 1997

Ed Gormley 1998

Dr. Crittenden Huston 1999

Dale Tomlinson 2000

Bernie Turner/George Beal 2001

John Day 2002

Jim Lockett 2003

Colin Armstrong 2004

Jeff Kizer/Ron Davison 2005

Dave Hansen 2006

Lee Vasquez 2007

Skip Huwaldt 2008

Steve Macy 2009

Francis Charbonnier 2010

Walt Gowell 2011

Jeb Bladine 2012

Ken Rogers 2013

Tom Tankersley 2014

Todd Caster 2015

Rocky Wade 2016

Doug Hurl 2017

Allen Larsen 2018

Harold Washington 2019

Stan Primozich 2021

Gene Zinda 2022

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