Third Warren brother named Sports Hall-of-Famer

Third Warren brother named Sports Hall-of-Famer

With its recent induction of Jerry Warren ’75, the Lewis & Clark Sports Hall of Fame hit a grand slam, or dunked a three-pointer, or scored the tie-breaking field goal—whatever sports metaphor you want to choose!

In October, Jerry joined brothers Ray Warren ’65 and Gary Warren ’73 as a member of the Sports Hall of Fame. The brothers’ story also happens to illuminate changes in American society during a pivotal era in history.

The path begins with oldest brother Ray, now associate dean of students and director of ethnic student services at Lewis & Clark. Ray started his education in a two-room schoolhouse in a tiny Texas town. After eighth grade, he and his family moved to Portland, where Ray attended Jefferson High School—his first experience with integrated education.

He enrolled at Lewis & Clark in 1962 and joined the baseball team. As one of only a few African-American students on campus, Ray recalls feeling like “a little speck in a sea of whiteness.”

After graduation, Ray pursued teaching, joining the Lewis & Clark staff in 1987. At the administration’s request, he formed Ethnic Student Services a few years later.

In 1989, Ray was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for his skills on the baseball diamond.

Seven years after Ray first set foot on campus, brother Gary enrolled, benefiting from the path Ray and others had blazed. Now a sixth-grade teacher in Eugene, Gary was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 for outstanding play on the basketball court.

“My Lewis & Clark professors really encouraged me to put in my best effort,” he says. “They always pushed me to do a little bit more and helped me gain confidence in the process. That’s what I take with me in my work with kids today.”

Brother Jerry, two years younger than Gary, was among the first Portland-area students to experience busing in the public schools. He joined Gary on campus in 1971, where he participated in basketball, football, and track and field. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for his stellar performance in the latter two sports.

After graduation, Jerry was invited to try out for the Dallas Cowboys, but a pair of injuries dashed his chances. Instead, he went into teaching, eventually becoming a health education consultant at a nationwide education consulting firm based in Seattle.

Jerry Gatto, head baseball coach and director of athletic development, has known the Warrens since he taught Gary and Jerry at Boise elementary School almost 40 years ago. From the beginning, he says, he noticed something special about them.

“Each of the Warrens is an outstanding athlete, and you just have to look at what they’re doing with their lives today—each of them working in the field of education—to see how they’ve put their personal philosophies into action.”

 

—by Melissa Steineger

 

L&C Sports Hall of Fame inducts new members

The College inducted four individuals and one team into the Lewis & Clark Sports Hall of Fame at Homecoming this fall. Joelle Beck Fanger ’91 (softball/volleyball), Christine Johnson Himm ’89 (volleyball), Matt Roth ’89 (swimming), and Jerry Warren ’75 (football/track and field) were honored for their individual achievements. The 1949 men’s basketball team, the first on Palatine Hill to win a conference championship, also received kudos.

The Hall of Fame Committee recognized five additional former athletes for their contributions to individual sports or to the College. Mike Kohlhoff ’66 and Ed Cheff ’67 each received a Lifetime Sport and Leadership Award. Kohlhoff is now a vice president with the U.S. Tennis Association. Cheff is the head baseball coach at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. And Chuck Charnquist ’58, Bill Akers ’67, and Ron Grover received the Meritorious Service Award. Charnquist is a former director of public information at Lewis & Clark. Akers and Grover volunteer their time at College basketball and football games, running the scoreboard and shot/game clock.