Nonprofit to take over McMinnville’s Hillside retirement community

March 31, 2023, McMinnville N-R/News-Register

HumanGood, a nonprofit senior living provider, is purchasing Brookdale Hillside retirement community in McMinnville.

Mary Brickel, vice president of operations, sent a letter to Hillside residents and their families Tuesday telling them of the coming change in ownership. She said HumanGood will take over about May 1.

HumanGood officials will meet with residents and daily members after dinner Tuesday, April 4, to tell them more about the change. The meeting will be held both in-person and via Zoom.

“We are committed to making this a smooth transition for every resident,” family and employee, Brickel wrote. She said the current Brookdale and HumanGood will make sure the “high quality of services … are not disrupted.”

Brookdale Hillside started as Hillside Manor in 1983, when local business people built the original building on Hill Road. With both independent living apartments and a nursing care wing, it was the first retirement facility in McMinnville.

Ownership has changed hands several times over the years. In addition, the campus has since expanded to include three major buildings that stretch over a site that also borders West Second Street, in addition to numerous private cottages.

Hillside offers a range of care, from independent living to assisted living, memory care and short- and long-term nursing care.

For more information, call the retirement center’s office, at 503–472-9534.

Photo taken 4/18/2023 by ‘Mac News.’ HumanGood logo found online.

Amazing life: McMinnville's John Klaus, 1909-2010

Amazing life: McMinnville's John Klaus, 1909-2010

John Klaus, 100-years-old, died Jan. 2, 2010, at Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville with his devoted son and family at his side.

John was born August 25, 1909, in Bison, Kansas, to Henry and Margaret Klaus. Henry and Margaret were of German heritage and moved to Russia for free land. After unrest in Russia, they moved to a German community in La Crosse, Kansas.

John's older sister Ann died at age 17, his brother at 8, and his mother died when he was 10 years old, most likely from the flu of 1918. Younger brothers Henry and Seighardt and sister Alma survived to old age. They were sharecroppers and John spoke only German when he started school. John was proud that he never missed a day of school through his final year of 8th grade.

In 1925 John's father Henry sold all of their possessions including the dog, but not the family Bible and loaded everyone into a Model T. With John driving for the first time, they made their way toward relatives in the Portland, Oregon area. John recalled driving all day one day without seeing another car.

The family had supported themselves doing various jobs and farming, but all of that ended when milk and egg prices took a free fall in 1929. The depression caused John to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934 in Colorado. He learned to be a heavy equipment operator and a Roosevelt Democrat. He met Helen Carr, a waitress working at the David Havin Resort in Colorado, and they were married on October 6, 1940. Their marriage lasted 50 years until Helen's death.

With the outbreak of World War Two, John moved to Anchorage, Alaska to construct an airfield. At the end of the war, John, Helen, and 6 month old son Dean traveled to Seattle, Portland, and south to McMinnville. John stopped at Bill Steel's service station and inquired about work. He was told that Compton's was hiring, and so he decided to stay. For the next 50 years they lived in the same house on South Davis Street that he bought the week he arrived for cash, quite an accomplishment for a man who had lost everything in 1934.

In the following years he worked for Wally Wright Paving and Weyerhaeuser in Molalla. In 1953 he decided that he wanted to be home during construction season, so he borrowed enough money from his sister to purchase a truck from Vinton and Larson's. In 1962, with advice from Linfield track coach Hal Smith, John mixed asphalt with tire recap buffing and produced a running surface that is still used today. By 1967 John had invented and constructed a machine that applied the material to mile running tracks throughout the Northwest, including the University of Washington and most of the High Schools as far away as British Columbia.

In 1974 he sold the business to Atlas Surfaces of Lake Oswego and went back to his shop to invent and construct the equipment that processed rubber into mats by applying heat. After many failures, including one in his wife's kitchen, he achieved success. He later sold the business that become R&B Rubber, McMinnville's 5th largest employer.

Upon retirement he continued to develop his ideas. From the environment (he dumped his garbage once a year, everything else was recycled) to health (unpasteurized goat's milk and filberts) to new power sources (harnessing wave energy) were either near genius or just ahead of their time. He had unlimited patience with mechanical things, to try and fail and try again.

John and Helen were life long members of First Presbyterian Church, and they were proud of their many friends in the church. John was also a strong supporter of Friends of Yamhill County. His 100 years of life are a testament to his belief in all things in moderation; and his ability to provide for his family, even after his death, is a testament to his Kansas Depression era youth.

John was preceded in death by his wife Helen, his brothers and sisters, and his special Grandson Dustin. His survived by his son Dean, daughter in law Debbie, grandchildren Danielle Bailey (John), Dyreka Wood (Kevin), Dormilee Kiger (Dylan) and Dorian, and three great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 9, 2009 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of Macy and Son. Memorials may be given to McMinnville Wildlife Rehabilitation c/o Macy and Son Funeral Directors.

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John Klaus, pioneer in track & field ovals

By Scott Phoenix, USA Track & Field Newsletter, Nov. 8, 2019

The next Olympics returns to the site of the last Olympics to be contested on a cinder track. Amidst the red splashings in the rain and reddish dust on socks in the dry, nobody in 1964 had any idea what was to come in the world of tracks.

Fifty-five years before, 1909, a baby was born who was destined to become a giant in the world of track surfaces. Due to circumstances of his birth, he only made it through the 8th grade, working this labor job and that, but after the Depression hit and Franklin D. Roosevelt came to be President, the Civilian Conservation Corps was formed and this youth had a ticket out of abject poverty.

Assigned to work in Alaska during WW2, he came after its end to Portland and then McMinnville, where opportunities looked good, and that is how John Klaus came to be an Oregonian.

Eventually he started an equipment business near Linfield College Memorial Stadium/Maxsell Field, which included a modest, 2-man paving effort. About 1963 the then Linfield track coach, Hal Smith, wanted to know if Klaus could produce a softer surface for jumping events, a challenge Klaus accepted. He had equipment to use, but no material to put in it.

He came upon the idea of using what were called buffings, scrapings off the treads of bias-ply tires so that retread surfaces could be applied. Klaus's idea was to combine these bufferings with roofing asphalt, and he used a device of his own making, a 1’x2’ box into which the mixture could be poured so that propane–fueled burners could heat the ingredients and apply them to the ground as the box was dragged along. At first Klaus drove to Portland to bring back 55-gallon containers of bufferings, but as the business expanded, he switched to dumpster loads.

His first track was laid in 1967 in Estacada. For an entire track, a much larger heated screed was needed, so Klaus came up with something six feet wide that could be pulled behind a specially-geared truck to keep the speed at 1 mph. Carrying 1,000 gallons of asphalt and bufferings, the truck made one swath of the track, a day-long operation, then would be driven to Gresham for another load of asphalt to repeat the process three more times.

Klaus improved and improved again his process over the years and eventually put in as many as 14 tracks a year. They included a high school on Vancouver Island, the College of Redwoods, and even the University of Washington! No less a person than Univesity of Oregon men's track & field coach Bill Bowerman commented that Klaus’s track was the fastest of its time. The contract for the Estacada job was $10,000 or about $77,000 in 2019. Klaus basically kept the price for each one at that.

Klaus eventually sold his business to Atlas Tracks of Lake Oswego and turned his attention to making compressed rubber mats that are found in weight rooms and horse stalls everywhere.

Upon the death of his father, Dean Klaus made certain that the Klaus business property that was sold to Linfield bore a plaque in honor of his dad’s contributions to the betterment of track participants everywhere.

(See two photos of plaque posted here, taken by Mac News on 4/18/2023)

(Plaque located on edge of parking lot on SE Chandler Avenue. Locate plaque with GPS coordinates: 45°12'02.5"N 123°11'46.3"W)

 (Submitted by Scott Phoenix, Certification Chair for the Oregon Association based upon information provided by Dean Klaus, Oct. 29, 2019)

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RB Rubber's parent company sells to Arsenal Capital Partners

By Molly Walker, McMinnville N-R./News-Register, Dec. 28, 2012

Arsenal Capital Partners purchases home-grown company

Harold M. Stuhl Jr., chief operations officer for the rubber group of Dash Multi-Corp, expects it will be business as usual at RB Rubber Products in McMinnville, following the sale of its parent company, Dash Multi-Corp, to Arsenal Capital Partners. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of December.

Arsenal is a private equity firm investing in middle-market industrial and healthcare companies. In addition to the rubber recycling through its local operation and a tire recycler in Portland, Dash Multi-Corp manufactures formulated polyurethane, vinyl plastisol and specialty coatings through MarChem, its plastics and chemicals business, and is reportedly generating over $100 million in total revenue.

Marvin Wool, Dash’s founder and president, is 84 and was desiring to sell, Stuhl said. The McMinnville operation for RB Rubber employs over 100.

“Arsenal Capital wants to grow the business, make them more successful and is willing to invest accordingly,” said Stuhl. “I’m very excited about this.”

The core business for RB Rubber includes manufacturing tiles from recycled rubber as matting for horse stalls, playground safety tiles and athletic flooring.

The business has been truly homegrown. It started when John Klaus of McMinnville saw old tires as a wasted resource. Crushing the tires into powder, he invented the product that provided RB Rubber’s foundation.

Initially, Klaus marketed products as a track and field surface through his business, J.K. Asphalt Paving. He sold that part of the business to Atlas Track and continued to develop other products from powdered rubber. But a fire prevented Klaus from getting that business really going.

Ron Bogh, who had graduated from McMinnville High School, purchased the operation from Klaus in 1985 and used his initials for the name RB Rubber. At first, he was a one-person business.

He expanded the company to 30 employees by 1990.

Bogh took the business public in 1995 to raise money for an expansion and it subsequently purchased a Portland tire recycler in 1998. Six-months later, Dash, a St. Louis, Mo.-based company, made an offer and Bogh sold his controlling interests. By that time, there were 72 employees.

In 2003, Dash, which was wholly owned by Wool and his family, made a deal to purchase the remaining shares and the company returned to private ownership.

The acquisition of Dash is one of several made by Arsenal during 2012.

“Dash operates in several exciting sectors and our plan is to invest in the business and identify strategic acquisitions to expand its core capabilities and provide more solutions to customers,” said Tim Zappala, a partner at Arsenal who is the co-head for the firm’s specialty industrials group.

Henrik Voldbaek now serves as the general manager for the McMinnville operation.

 

Big, Big Iron bridge work, McMinnville, Oregon 3/27/2023

At FBC, McMinnville, Ore., on March 19, 2023, belated St, Patrick's celebration.

 At FBC, McMinnville, Ore., on March 19, 2023, belated St, Patrick's celebration.

'Father' of NCAA basketball 'Final Four’ deserves his Oregon Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement, says Linfielder Larry Hermo

 

This story was posted At Wildcatville on Aug. 21, 2020. The McMinnville N-R/News-Register photo shows LARRY Hermo wearing a mask. Added IS a photo taken MARCH 25, 2023, showing LARRY with0ut a mask.

 

'Father' of NCAA basketball 'Final Four’ deserves his Oregon Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement, says Linfielder Larry Hermo

Y-C’s ‘Father of the Final Four’ deserves Oregon Hall

= Tom Jernstedt died Sept 6, 2020.

= Story from McMinnville N-R/News-Register extensively quotes and provides information about Larry Hermo, Linfield Class of 1959 and earned Master of Arts degree in 1966.

=Cutline for N-R photo: Larry Hermo, former Yamhill-Carlton head baseball coach, holds up a magazine article highlighting his former ace pitcher, Tom Jernstedt. Jernstedt, who proved instrumental in the creation and format of the current NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, is being inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

Read more about Larry here:

http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2012/11/larry-hermo-linfield-class-of-1959-was.html

= Text for N-R story which appears in 8/21/2020 McMinnville N-R/News-Register print edition:

For the past three years, former Yamhill-Carlton baseball coach Larry Hermo fought tirelessly for his ex-player Tom Jernstedt’s inclusion in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Jernstedt, one of the state’s grandest sports personalities, failed to receive enough votes in 2018 and 2019.

His prospects took an upturn this year, however, thanks to his coach’s efforts.

While the in-person Hall of Fame banquet remains in jeopardy due to COVID-19, a virtual presentation of this year’s inductees will finally include “Mr. Final Four.”

A televised event in September will give Oregonians a glimpse into the life and career of the Carlton native who played a pivotal role in the growth of the NCAA’s men’s basketball tournament known as March Madness.

“I’m very, very honored to be enshrined in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame,” said Jernstedt.

Larry Hermo first met 17-year old Tom Jernstedt shortly after accepting the head baseball position at Yamhill-Carlton High School in 1962.

“When I arrived in Yamhill, I was told the team had a star pitcher who threw four no-hitters the previous year,” recalled Hermo.

That pitcher, Jernstedt, instilled fear into opposing batters with his fiery fastball and a mythical curveball. Under Hermo’s tutelage, Jernstedt tossed three more no-no’s in his junior campaign.

A year later, Jernstedt’s meteoric rise as a three-sport athlete – football, basketball and baseball – led the News-Register to write, “Everything he does is great!”

Hermo added, “He was a heck of an athlete.”

Jernstedt was selected as KOIN’s Oregon High School Athlete of the Year in 1963. That same year, he earned Y-C’s Inspirational Athlete award and capped his career with first team all-state honors in all three sports.

Hermo and Jernstedt teamed up to lead the Tigers to a league title – the school’s second of four consecutive conference championships – and a state semifinal appearance in 1963.

Y-C’s postseason run ended with a controversial 3-1 loss to Bandon, in which a home-friendly umpiring crew clouded Hermo’s recollection of the playoff.

“The home plate ump was the (Bandon) catcher’s dad, and the field crew was also from the area. I felt like the OSAA should’ve done a better job organizing, and they admitted they should’ve hired a crew from Coos Bay,” said Hermo.

A weather-aided error late in the contest ultimately handed Bandon the victory and a trip to the state finals in Portland.

Jernstedt regretted missing competing for a state title, but his baseball tenure in Y-C remains one of the greatest in the school’s history.

Hermo’s arrival in Yamhill was especially fortuitous, Jernstedt said. The Clatskanie graduate served in the Army shortly after the Korean War, and played baseball in Seoul.

“I played against some pro baseball players who were drafted into the Army,” remembered Hermo.

In early 1962, Hermo’s military service ended and he quickly received an opportunity to teach and coach at Y-C in February of the same year. The team’s previous coach, George Ing, left Yamhill to purchase property on the Columbia River, Jernstedt noted.

The pairing of the electric arm of Jernstedt and the inspirational coaching of Hermo resulted in unprecedented success at Y-C.

In ’62, the Tigers qualified for the A-2 quarterfinals, but fell to North Catholic, 4-2. The following season, Jernstedt’s senior campaign, Y-C knocked off Seaside 3-2 in the A-2 quarterfinals, but fell just short in the windy loss to Bandon.

Nevertheless, Jernstedt still holds Hermo’s direction in high esteem, saying, “Larry was a very good coach – an excellent coach.”

Hermo’s tenure with the Tigers lasted six years, in which the team lost only three league games in a four-year span, racked up four league titles and four state playoff appearances.

He next coached at Rex Putnam in Milwaukie, where he also taught history and led the Kingsmen for 24 years. In his career, Hermo notched 427 wins and was inducted into the Oregon Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998.

In the 1980s, Hermo coached a young Scott Brosius – of New York Yankee fame.

“Not too many coaches can say they’ve coached two of the grandest Oregon sports personalities in history,” noted Hermo.

Brosius’ turn as a World Series hero was witnessed by his former coach, who gave Hermo tickets on multiple occasions.

While the fame of Jernstedt and Brosius, plus a connection to Hermo drew comparisons between the two, Hermo said what he always noticed was their similar work ethics.

“Both Tom and Scott were wonderful people and great leaders. They both earned their ways in life – nothing was given to them,” said Hermo.

While Jernstedt’s prowess on the playing field and on the basketball court demanded attention, his leadership skills made him truly special, Hermo said.

Named student-body president, Jernstedt proved a capable and willing leader. An ability to listen before engaging with teammates and friends eventually translated perfectly to his future role in the NCAA.

When participating in Beaver Boys State, Jernstedt’s people skills eventually landed him the role of governor in the simulated political exercise.

Jernstedt parlayed his on- and off-field successes into a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.

As a member of the Ducks, he redshirted his freshman year, and was beaten out for the starting quarterback role as a sophomore. Though still interested in playing baseball, his football scholarship denied him the opportunity to play his favorite sport.

Jernstedt’s elevated personal expectations led to a conversation with then-Oregon athletic director Len Casanova.

“I went in to talk to Cas, and I told him how sorry I was for my performance. I didn’t think I was playing up to my standards. I asked him if there was anything else I could do to help the football team,” recalled Jernstedt.

“It was difficult to give up playing sports,” he added.

Casanova offered Jernstedt a recruiting position. After graduating, he worked with McCormick Spices as a salesman. “I didn’t know anything about spices, but they paid me $14,000 and gave me a company car,” laughed Jernstedt.

After only 10 months in the sales industry, Casanova called Jernstedt to offer him a new position back at his alma mater.

“Cas offered me $7,000 to return to Oregon and I couldn’t wait to get back there,” he noted.

The Carlton native served as assistant athletic director from 1968-1972, mostly coordinating events. At age 29, he was in prime position to succeed Casanova as the Ducks’ athletic director, but a criticism of his inexperience led to the school passing him over.

The denial proved a massive boon for Jernstedt’s career.

Jernstedt began working for the NCAA in 1972.

He initially assisted with the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. The occasion delivered a lesson in management for Jernstedt, who recounted one of the most stressful moments of his career.

The experience involved legendary Oregon track and field coach Bill Bowerman and NCAA track and field chairman DeLoss Dodds.

“We were hosting the NCAA Track and Field Championships, and the night before the meet I met with the committee at Clark Dormitory. We took a walk around the track and DeLoss informed me the relay intervals were wrong – the hand-off areas were incorrect,” said Jernstedt.

“DeLoss said he wanted to talk to Coach Bowerman. I informed Bowerman, and he was obviously ruffled by the questions. I was stuck in the middle and I was intimidated by both sides. It was the highest intensity situation of my career.

“It didn’t help that I didn’t know what the hell I was doing,” he added.

Late in 1972, Jernstedt’s official title at the NCAA was Director of Events. He wielded a variety of roles within the governing body, but left his greatest impact on the Division I men’s basketball tournament.

He grew interested in expanding the spectacle of what would become the Final Four. He was instrumental in marketing deals, TV negotiations, selection committees and venues.

Jernstedt’s accomplishments with the men’s basketball program eventually landed him an induction into the NCAA Hall of Fame and National Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was awarded the John Bunn Award in 2001, served as president of the Board of Directors for USA Basketball, and eventually earned the role of Executive Vice President for the NCAA – the number-two position in the organization.

“I was very fortunate to enjoy the opportunities to help the NCAA D-I men’s basketball championships grow into what they are today. I feel very, very lucky to receive those opportunities,” said Jernstedt.

A chance to become the top dog at the NCAA was rebuffed by Jernstedt, citing his desire to continue work with the men’s basketball tournament.

“I’m very pleased to have turned down more money and that job. I was too happy watching the tournament grow into what it is now,” he explained.

Jernstedt’s importance in athletics drew him and, by extension, Hermo, into the world of sports celebrities.

A close friend of Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek, Jernstedt regularly golfed with “Hondo” and other NBA personalities.

Hermo, while attending a college basketball game courtesy of Jernstedt, met Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher Sandy Koufax. He’s also met Tiger Woods, Sam Jones, Arnold Palmer and Mickey Mantle during his tour through the wide world of sports.

Their experiences in athletics comprise a sports fan’s dream, and the two Oregonians remain thankful.

Jernstedt, finally earning recognition in his home state for his contribution to athletics, is simply ready to return to the Willamette Valley after living in Jupiter, Florida during his retirement.

“I’ve been away for a number of years, and I’m ready to return,” he said.

After his grandson, Cole, graduates from high school, Jernstedt feels compelled to move to Eugene and “follow the Ducks more closely.”

Hermo, his old coach, friend and most faithful supporter, appears excited to witness Jernstedt’s induction next month.

“Tom is one of the top personality individuals I’ve come across. He has always distinguished himself with honor. There’s a reason he’s called, ‘Mr. Final Four,’” he concluded.

#

 

Tom Jernstedt, father of the Final Four

For nearly four decades, Jernstedt protected and promoted the NCAA tournament

By Michael Smith, Sports Business Journal, March 23, 2015

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/03/23/Champions/Jernstedt.aspx

 

http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2020/08/father-of-ncaa-basketball-final-four.html

TRACKING PLAQUES ON LINFIELD CAMPUS: SLEUTHING & STORIES

 TRACKING PLAQUES ON LINFIELD CAMPUS: SLEUTHING & STORIES

If you enjoy the history of Linfield, you will enjoy the presentation by McMinnville’s Gretchen Freeman, a library technology consultant, 2 p.m. April 18, 2023, for the Hillside retirement community “Adventures in Learning.”

Her talk will take place in the Hillside Manor ‘Activity Room,” on the ground floor of the Manor apar4tment building on the north end of the Hillside campus, 900 NW Hill Road, McMinnville.

For those who are not Hillside residents, cost to attend is $5 per person payable at the door.

The write-up in an “Adventures in Learning” brochure says during COVID days in 2020, Gretchen and her husband, Mike, Freeman “set out on walks to locate and document the outdoor plaques found on trees and gardens to honor historic notables. Who were they? This first-ever listing, now archived at Linfield, contains photos and stories about the honorees. Learn about some of the discoveries and how to find them on the Linfield campus.”

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MORE INFO

Guide to the Linfield University Outdoor Plaques Collection

‘Linfield University Outdoor Plaques Inventory’ is the wonderful work/creation of McMinnville residents Gretchen L. & Michael J. Freeman. It was done during the Summer of 2020. It is a finding aid representing a collection of outdoor plaques, stone/bench engravings, plaques, and other memorials found throughout the Linfield University campus in McMinnville. Prior to this there had been no such inventory.

https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/lca_findingaids/42

In October 2021, Gretchen Freeman said the 2020 Linfield plaque inventory project "grew from our countless walks on campus during the first year of COVID restrictions when there were no students around. It led to about 60 hours of research to compile the documentation of 34 plaques. We also did narrated walking tours for groups of friends. All very interesting discoveries."

BIG IRON McMinnville Three Mile Lane Bridge 3/24/2023