Editor:
I’ve been thinking for weeks about writing a letter to the editor in appreciation to the people of Sweet Home for the many blessings bestowed upon me.
During my 16 years employment at The New Era newspaper as sports and church page editor, I had a ball. I made countless friendships as I watched students go from elementary to high school and several through college.
This month, Aug. 9, I celebrated my 80th birthday. I don’t drive any more, as I have neuropathy in my legs. My wife, Ruth, operates our family automobile while I push the lawnmower and walk with a cane.
At 80, I believe it is time to reflect. It was a “love affair” from the beginning between the 8,000-plus citizens of Sweet Home and this journalist. I was fortunate to work for two outstanding publishers, Dave and Sonia Cooper and later, Alex and Debi Paul.
Mention the word “sports” in Sweet Home, and immediately you have an eager and cooperative audience. The citizens of Sweet Home love their children in a special way, backing team sports at all levels with attendance and complete cooperation.
The mutual admiration started early. I was honored to be among the very first “Ten Most Important People in Sweet Home” by the Presidents Club.
One earlier highlight event was a “Pete Porter Day” in September 1980, a complete surprise. Local merchants displayed signs congratulating me and my service to the community. “Pete Porter Day” buttons, made by Traci Daniels and Ken Wold, were distributed to local sales people, the high school staff and students.
The kickoff event started at 10 a.m. at Mollie’s Bakery on Main Street. Refreshments consisted of a huge cake, coffee and punch. I visited with community members. Many pictures were taken, and I had the opportunity to make many new friends.
At halftime of the Sweet Home-Roosevelt high school football game, the excitement continued. I left the press box early to join my wife, Ruth. We circled the Husky stadium track in Jim Mechals’ Nova convertible with the large crowd cheering.
I was presented with plaques from several community organizations and youth teams, received autographed footballs, a volleyball and other sports memorabilia, a new Husky jacket with “Husky Reporter” written on the back and several other gifts.
Mollie Andrews, Ev and Loren Emmert and Jan and Howard Daniels, all Sweet Home business owners, spearheaded this event.
Like I’ve said many, many times, “Sweet Home is a sports writer’s dream community with great interest, participation and love for the young people.”
Starting at Linn-Benton Community College, I wrote a weekly sports column called “Pete’s Pot-Shots.” Under both publishers I wrote nearly weekly church features, where I was permitted to share my Christian faith freely. Also, for several years, I wrote a “Pause of Refreshing” church Bible study.
Among numerous awards hidden in two big boxes in the bottom of my closet are twice being named Oregon Swimming Sportswriter of the Year, the Sports Media Award (chosen from print, radio and television), one athletic picture that finished second in the state and third in the nation and finishing as the second best sports page in the state for newspapers our size.
A word of thanks to my publishers. Of the countless hundreds of miles of copy I’ve produced over the years, only a very few times was I limited or censored in what I could write. In fact, I was permitted to send some of my stories and pictures to magazines and sold a few of both.
Over the years, I outlasted one general manager, three editors and a handful of reporters. In fact, the individual who replaced me was fired in a few weeks, and I had to return to work for one week after my retirement. The Paul family went to Hawaii, so I took Alex’s place for the week he was gone.
A few years after my retirement, the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce wrote and wanted me, an Albany resident, to serve as grand marshal of the Sportsman’s Holiday Parade. It was a great time of renewing old friendships.
While typing this, the thought came to me: Without Jim Tolbert’s and Jenny Spiker’s (LBCC instructors) early patience and help many years ago following my brain surgery, many of these blessings never would have happened. My two years at LBCC and 16 years at one of the greatest sports communities in the state were the highlights of my life.
I remember the words of Mollie Andrews, who preceded me as Sportsman’s Holiday Grand Marshal, “Pete, you are really going to learn how to wave to everyone.”
Awards tarnish with age, but corresponding friendships that developed over the years can last a lifetime.
Pete Porter
Albany
Editor’s note: Pete Porter retired from The New Era in the spring of 1995.