The Observer., April 21, 2022, THURSDAY EDITION, Page 24, Image 24

FROM PAGE ONE
A8 — THE OBSERVER
Dale Case drives a
vintage tractor down
Adams Avenue,
La Grande, during
a parade in this
undated photo.
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Bob Goss, right, and his daughter Lisa Goss pose for
a photograph at the La Grande American Legion
Post 43 on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. He is holding
the award he received in recognition of 75 years of
continuous membership in the American Legion.
Dale Case/
Contributed Photo
CASE
that Case also has a history
of service to the Northeastern
Oregon community.
“Dale is an all-around
great person who has great
community values and
is always willing to help
others,” Howard said.
responsible for the production
of seeds for peas and other
crops.
Case later worked for 16
years as Del Monte’s regional
manager for seed production
in Oregon, Idaho and Wash-
ington. He was responsible in
this position for the produc-
tion of seeds including those
for sugar beets, beans, lima
beans, peas and hybrid corn.
Innovations in wheat
and canola
‘Doing what I thought
needed to be done’
Continued from Page A1
A number of Case’s con-
tributions to agriculture
were made while serving in
many roles as a member of
the Oregon Wheat Growers
League and the Oregon
Wheat Commission. He
served on the Oregon Wheat
Commission from 2010 to
2019 and was its chair in 2012
and 2013. During his tenure
with the Oregon Wheat
Commission, he was heavily
involved in helping the com-
mission fund research on
the development of types of
wheat that grow best in the
Pacifi c Northwest. He also
worked to open new markets
for Oregon wheat.
Case is credited by the
Columbia Basin ARC with
playing an instrumental role
in helping to get grain loaded
and transported by rail out
of the Grande Ronde Valley.
This helped reduce transpor-
tation costs by reducing the
need for trucking grain.
The Grande Ronde Valley
farmer is also being recog-
nized for work he has done
to help make crops such as
canola become more viable
in the Pacifi c Northwest. The
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group
Dale Case poses for a photo next
to his John Deere tractor, which
he still uses to work his fi elds, on
Friday, April 15, 2022.
Columbia Basin ARC noted
that Case was among 10
agricultural producers who
formed a group to advance the
growing of canola in Eastern
Oregon. The group worked to
secure funds from the Oregon
Lottery that were shared
by Oregon State University
and the University of Idaho
to develop a line of canola
named Erica, which with-
stands winter conditions better
than many other varieties
of canola, according to the
Columbia Basin ARC. This
work eventually led to the
development of the Amanda
line of canola in 2007, which
grows well in dry land and
irrigated regions of Oregon,
Idaho and Washington.
Case also has many years
of experience working in
the seed industry. It includes
several years as manager of
Del Monte’s seed farm in
Summerville, where he was
THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022
GOSS
Continued legacy
Continued from Page A1
in the late 1940s and performed around the
region — Goss took part in the Portland
Parade of Roses on several occasions. The
longtime drummer also recalled the post’s
band playing for the members in years past,
as those in attendance fi lled the dance fl oor
of the La Grande post.
“They invited us to a lot of places to play
music for them,” Goss said.
Goss joked about often being the drum
corps’ go-to driver when other members
indulged at the bar after performances,
bringing members to and from events as far
as Portland.
“We’d go to a lot of diff erent places and
usually I was the one who would drive us
home,” he said.
Of Goss’ many memories with the Amer-
ican Legion Post 43 over the years, the 2009
Veteran’s Day Parade in La Grande stands
out. Goss was the parade’s grand marshal.
Today Case serves as the
chair of a six-member board
of the Oregon Agricultural
Foundation. The foundation
promotes and assists agri-
cultural studies at Eastern
Oregon University through
the management of farm
properties. The organization,
when money is available, dis-
tributes funds to Eastern for
the agriculture program and
scholarships. The Agricul-
tural and Natural Resource
program is a cooperative part-
nership between Oregon State
University’s College of Agri-
cultural Sciences and EOU.
Case has raised wheat for
many years on his family
farm in the Alicel area,
without the aid of irrigation.
He said local farmers almost
never ask him for advice on
raising wheat.
“They all know as much
about it as I do,” Case said.
He also speaks humbly
of the recognition he is now
receiving from Oregon State
University.
“I was just doing what I
thought needed to be done,”
he said. “I was never looking
for accolades.”
La Grande resident saw the war through to
its conclusion, serving as a motor machinist
in Okinawa, Japan, for the Allied Forces’
last major victory, on April 1, 1945 — the
crew served in several locations including
Pearl Harbor and throughout the Asiatic
Pacifi c Theater. Goss’ older brother, Bill,
also served in World War II, stationed in
Germany and France.
Goss reminisced about the six months or
so he remained in the Pacifi c after the war
ended. While traveling back through the
Panama Canal on his return to the United
States, he crossed paths with another La
Grande resident, Charlie Snyder — the mil-
itary member was stationed at the canal to
care for soldiers on their return to the states.
“There he was,” Goss said. “He was there
when we left and still there to welcome us
back.”
Serving the country
Goss joined the United States Navy
in 1942 and worked on the crew of the
LSM166 Amphibious Landing Ship in the
South Pacifi c from 1944 through 1946. The
Following his time in World War II,
Goss played a key role in the earlier days
of the American Legion organization in La
Grande. The La Grande Post 43 has seen
several locations over the years, such as the
former Sacajawea Hotel in downtown La
Grande.
“For a long time, they didn’t have anyone
to run the post,” Goss said. “We’d take turns
running it down here for a day or two.”
After Bob and Bill Goss returned
from World War II, the brothers ran M.J.
Goss Motor Company in La Grande for a
number of years. Bob Goss later branched
off to open his own store, Gateway Motors,
from 1960 through the mid-1980s. Many
around town, including offi cials at Post 43,
remarked that Goss sold them cars or parts
over the years.
In 2014, Goss took part in the Honor
Flight of Eastern Oregon, which sends vet-
erans from around the region on a free trip
to Washington, D.C., to visit war monu-
ments and memorials.
After receiving his award for 75 years of
continuous membership, Goss donated his
drum corps uniform from the 1940s to the
American Legion, for the La Grande Post to
display for years to come.
Passing
down
recipes
CELEBRATION
ELGIN ELECTRIC
Ask us about FREE DELIVERY
43 N. 8th Elgin, OR 541-437-2054
GET RECLINING & GET SAVING!
Choose from an amazing selection of our greatest recliner styles
and features including power, leather, swivels and more
649
$
only
• Free Delivery
• In-Store Credit
• 70 Store Buying Power
• Decorating Assistance
GIBSON
Rocker Recliner
649
$
to fit comfortably
into your budget!
JOSHUA
JASPER
Rocker Recliner
only
all sale priced
MORRISON
only
Rocker Recliner
699
$
only
$
799
HOURS:Mon. - Fri.
9:30 am-6:30 pm
Sat. 9:30 am-5:30 pm
Sun. 12 noon-4 pm
1520 ADAMS AVENUE La GRANDE, OREGON 97850
(541) 963-4144 • 888-449-2704