Hermiston History: Hermiston commencement includes 19 graduates in 1933

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, May 17, 2023

25 YEARS AGO

May 19, 1998

Many were saddened to hear the news of longtime 55 Alive driving class instructor Francis Weger’s death.

Weger, who died May 4, 1998, at age 80, was a math teacher at Piedmont High School in Piedmont, California, before he gave driving lessons.

In 1976, he retired and moved with his wife, Alwilda, to Hermiston. Deciding he was not yet ready for full-time retirement, Weger buckled in with the team at 55 Alive.

For the past nine years, Weger led classes, mentored students and even trained new instructors. In that time, he taught a total of 1,849 students and traveled as far as Enterprise in the northeast corner to Richland, near the Oregon-Idaho border.

While the 55 Alive director interviewed possible instructors, Good Shepherd Hospital and Blue Mountain Community College stepped in to keep the classes going.

While the beloved instructor would surely be missed, he was remembered as a cheerful and dedicated man who sought to make the roads safer.

50 YEARS AGO

May 17, 1973

The city of Hermiston’s approval of a beer and wine license for a proposed tavern did not sit well with nearby residents and church members.

The Cedar Well Tavern was to be built at 900 N. First Street, right across from The Church of God. Several letters of concern were written to the city council, addressing issues such as traffic dangers and inconvenience.

Mrs. Earl Taylor, wife of the church’s minister, was present at the meeting and voiced her opinion. She claimed the tavern would create numerous problems, such as having to clean up after tavern patrons each morning. Taylor was not alone, as she mentioned a liquor control representative had polled nearby residents and they were opposed to the tavern as well.

While these concerns were heard, city officials said the license was not officially granted because the Oregon Liquor Control Commission would have the final say.

75 YEARS AGO

May 20, 1948

Guy Rhymes, warehouseman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and his family of four were among the first families to settle in a community near the McNary Dam site.

There were a total of 29 duplex units, most with the same features. They featured apartment-sized ranges, 6.5 cubic foot refrigerators and wall-type space heaters in every room.

The Rhymes family moved into a unit on Lewis Street. They expressed surprise to see little clover heads already sprouting upwards from the newly seeded lawn. The recent heavy rains played a major role in nourishing plants all around and making the new McNary community even more vibrant. Maintenance carpenter Ralph Dillon and his family of three, who claimed unit 228, were the second family to settle there.

Both families were very impressed with the buildings and excited about their new living quarters. In the following weeks, the community grew as others sought the nice homes.

90 YEARS AGO

May 18, 1933

Many schools in the west end of Umatilla County were preparing to send their students off into the world, including 19 seniors from Hermiston Union High School. The students would graduate on May 25 at the Methodist Church.

Burt Brown Baker, vice president of the University of Oregon, was scheduled to deliver the address. And awards would be presented by R.H. McAtee, while W.J. Warner, president of the board, was tasked with distributing diplomas.

Mary Ward achieved salutatorian status while Dick Martin was the valedictorian. Each would present speeches at the commencement ceremony.

Irrigon and Boardman already had their graduation ceremonies, while Stanfield and Umatilla seniors would not have to wait too much longer. Irrigon and Boardman both graduated six while nine Stanfield students were to receive diplomas.

E.T Allen of Whitman College delivered the address at Irrigon’s ceremony, while Margaret Allen and Florine Brace presented the salutatorian and valedictorian speeches, respectively.

Stanfield’s graduation would hear Rev. W.S. Gleiser of Pendleton, as well as salutatorian Clara Johnson and valedictorian Margaret Johnson.