25 YEARS AGO

Feb. 16, 1999

Local students had the opportunity to try their hand at acting when the Missoula Children’s Theatre came to Hermiston.

With guidance from Missoula actors Ryan Grigg and Lisa Lehman, the children put on “The Wiz of the West.” This production resembled “The Wizard of Oz,” with similar settings and characters. The equivalent of Glenda was Cyclone Sal, played by Missoula’s Lehman. Dorothy and Toto were Dotty, Karmen Van Riper, and Nooch, Stephanie Fanning. Missoula’s Grigg played the Tin Man equivalent of Tinhorn, Stan Bird was Lionel and Kaylee Hendrickson was the villain Hawknose Halley. Rounding out the main roles was fourth grader Kaylee Hendrickson, who played both the Tarantula King and Dr. Ozzy.

A total of 167 children had auditioned, and once the 50 cast and crew members were selected, Missoula’s personnel directed rehearsals in what they described as controlled chaos. After just one week of practice, they presented the one-hour play on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.

One of the highlights was said to have been the Tarantulas, who ran around chanting their song, “We are the spiders, so everyone beware … We’re hairy, we’re scary, we’re hiding everywhere.” The play was thoroughly enjoyed by both the cast and the audience.

50 YEARS AGO

Feb. 14, 1974

Eight local individuals, including a coach, a pharmacist and a pastor, were honored at the Distinguished Service Awards Banquet.

Dick Green, a teacher at Sunset Elementary School, was named the Outstanding Young Man. The Businessman of the Year title went to Bernie Carper, the new owner of Moore and Ripley Drug Store. Dennis Bagnall, the physical education teacher at Sunset School, was named the Outstanding Young Educator for dedicating more than 80 hours each week to students with his various coaching roles.

Pastor Jack Naff, of the Hermiston First Christian Church, and Linda Gilleese were honored as Distinguished Citizens, while Hermiston Police Chief Robert Shannon was named Boss of the Year. Lastly, the Outstanding Young Farmer designation went to LaVerne Boylan. Owning and operating more than 2,000 colonies of honey bees and a large honey-extracting plant, Boyland was also named Oregon’s Outstanding Young Farmer and would represent the state for national honors in Iowa later that year.

All these individuals were active in the community and involved with organizations, including local churches, the United Good Neighbors, Hermiston Jaycees, Kiwanis Club and Hermiston Chamber of Commerce. For all their work in bettering the community, the community expressed its gratitude with these honorable designations.

75 YEARS AGO

Feb. 17, 1949

LeRoy E. Fuller, of Hermiston, was named the Agriculture Agent for Union Pacific Railroad at Boise.

In this position, the 28-year-old would direct Union Pacific’s farm activities from west of Bliss, Idaho, to Huntington, Oregon. He would also oversee all branches in the area, including the line to Burns.

Fuller’s agricultural expertise started at a young age, as he had stayed with his father at the residence of prominent diversified farmer Fred W. Trenke in Ontario. During this time, Fuller gained valuable experience in growing various row crops, such as potatoes, lettuce and sugar beets. He also learned about irrigation and cattle and sheep production.

In 1938, Fuller was awarded the Malheur County Carl Raymond Gray Union Pacific Vocational Agriculture Scholarship. Fuller used this award to attend Oregon State University in 1940, where he majored in farm management. Fuller’s education took a brief pause, as he was called to active duty, but resumed five years later with his discharge. Fuller then joined Hermiston’s Oregon State University Extension Service Station while continuing college classes. He graduated in 1946 with a bachelor of science in agriculture. He was later appointed the county extension agent for Umatilla County.

With this promotion, Fuller was in the process of moving his family to Boise in time for his March 1 start date.

90 YEARS AGO

Feb. 15, 1934

Charles H. Shaw, an individual who helped build Hermiston, died at the age of 79 after a long life full of travel and accomplishments.

Shaw was born in New York in 1854 and moved from Greeley County, Nebraska, to Eugene, Oregon, in 1887. The following year, he backtracked to Eastern Oregon and became an active member in the Hermiston community.

Shaw was involved with various infrastructure developments, including the Maxwell Ditch, which was the first system to carry water into Hermiston. He also cleared the lane west of the railroad tracks and opened it to residence development.

Shaw later got licensed and took contracts for leveling land for several years. In this position, he directed construction on the Westland Irrigation Canal to Butter Creek and helped build the little white schoolhouse on lower Butter Creek.

Although he was gone, Shaw’s legacy would live on as he had cemented himself in this area’s history.