community
2011
Senior Stars: Ken Bateman
By Karen Miller
october25
pharmacy and dental office is now locat-
ed. It moved to its current location in the
1950’s. Several names Ken remembers
as mail carriers from his dad’s post office
days: Jerry Russell and Dick Aldrich.
Ken has lots of memories about
growing up in Vernonia. “You didn’t
have as much to worry about back then
as we do now,” says Ken. “You never
locked your doors.”
When he was a kid, Ken remem-
bers running on logging roads, grouse
now stands, also only cost twenty-five
cents.
The year was 1965: average
Ken has memories of the film-
rent was $118 a month; gasoline was
ing of “Ring of Fire”--his mother was in
31 cents a gallon; average income in
the film running for the train and brother
the U.S. was $6500 a year. Australia
Steve was in the WOEC office scene ,
joined the Viet Nam War; Pope Paul be-
being sworn in as a deputy.
came the first Pope to visit the U.S; Mal-
Ken remembers eight gas sta-
colm X was shot in New York; cigarette
tions (8?!), lots of Ma and Pa grocery
ads were banned on TV in Britain; the
stores, and hanging out at the now torn
Beatles released their movie and album
down Pine Cone. He remembers his
“Help!”; President Lyndon Johnson an-
Dad had a 60’s Chevy Bel Air that Ken
nounced his project to
inherited in 1967—which
create Medicare... and
we won’t see at the yearly
in Vernonia, Ken Bate-
Jamboree car show, as
man made it through
Ken sold it in 1970. He
twelve years of school
then purchased a cute,
and graduated from
yellow VW Bug for
Vernonia High School
$1800, but traded it in for
with the class of ‘65!
a Dasher station wagon
Books may not
after his marriage to ac-
have been on Ken’s
commodate his growing
agenda in high school,
family. Yep, having kids
but quiet, laid back
changes things!
Ken went on to Corval-
Another memory of
lis that fall, graduating
growing up in Vernonia:
four years later from
picking strawberries af-
Oregon State in 1969.
ter third grade. His mom
Ken’s
dad,
was a field checker in
Tom arrived here in
Banks and Ken got paid
Oregon from Coving-
fifty cents a flat and made
ton, Oklahoma, a result
$105 in his first season.
of his brother head-
He proudly admits pick-
ing west in the 20’s.
ing thirty-eight flats and
Upon arrival Tom went
making $19 in one day.
to work for the Verno-
Although he didn’t spend
Ken Bateman, age 12, with Chinook Salmon caught in the Columbia River 3/6/60.
nia Post Office. Ken’s
it all on candy, he paid
brother Steve was a
for half his school clothes
wartime baby, born in
and he purchased a $25
1942. Tom returned from service in the hunting. Things back then were more savings bond each year. Could that have
Philippines and New Guinea in 1945 and care free. Ken remembers when he was been an early sign of Ken’s good busi-
Ken was born in 1947.
in grade school that people could just go ness sense?
Tom retired after forty years out and cut down a Christmas tree and
Some school memories: May
with the Postal Service in Vernonia, no one cared.
Pole dances; Pee Wee Baseball behind
working his way up from sorter, all the
Ken’s favorite thing to do as the high school; playing basketball and
way to postmaster. The old Post Office, a boy—fishing! You never saw Ken golf for the school teams all four years,
Ken recalls, was first located on Madi- “cruising the gut” up and down Bridge and doing as little school work as pos-
son, moved to the building where the Street, unless he was a tag a long, as Ken sible. Ken’s favorite teacher was Har-
never owned a car, but old McEntire, his math teacher at VHS.
instead filled his time Harold was Ken’s dad Tom’s fishing
baiting a hook.
buddy and Ken’s mentor.
Ken’s
first
Ken’s memory of Graduation
memory of the Friend- night: the “secret” senior party on Ke-
ship Jamboree was at asey Road.
the age of eight or nine
Many long time Vernonia resi-
and throwing darts at dents remember Ken’s sweet mother, Ina
During the 2012 Miss
the POPular Balloon Bateman, who at times could make peo-
Rodeo America Pageant
Booth, and the large ples hair stand on end... as the local hair-
which will be held at the
crowds watching.
dresser that is. Ina was raised in Laurel
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
The Joy The- on the back roads near Gaston, where her
in Las Vegas, NV, December
ater only cost twenty- parents owned a Ma and Pa grocery store
3 through December10, 2011
five cents and haircuts and raised filberts. Ina moved to Verno-
the “People’s Choice Award”
by “Barber Bricle”, nia with a friend after graduation from
will be presented to the
where Bear Creek Pub high school in Hillsboro in 1933 and at-
contestant who receives the
most “likes” on their picture
that will be posted on the
Miss Rodeo America Facebook page.
STEVE
DENNIS
Vernonia’s own Mackenzie Carr, 2011 Miss
HM: 503-429-3400
HM: 503-429-2810
Rodeo Oregon, will be a contestant in the Pageant.
CELL: 503-313-9006
CELL: 503-313-9044
The People’s Choice voting will start Monday,
October 31, beginning at noon and ending Thursday,
1264 G ST.
December 8, at noon. The 2012 Miss Rodeo
VERNONIA, OR 97064
SELF LOADER
ROAD BUILDNIG
America Pageant People’s Choice Award winner
LONG LOGGER
LAND CLEARING
O.P.L. CERTIFIED
O.P.L.H. CERTIFIED
EXCAVATION
will be announced Friday, December. 9, at the Miss CUSTOM LOGGING
Rodeo America Scholarship Foundation Auction that
takes place at Cowboy Christmas in the Las Vegas
We saddle shoe. Do you?
Convention Center. The winner will receive a beautiful
Montana Silversmiths Sculpture.
Voting is simple and FREE!! If you wish
to vote for your favorite contestant all you have
950 Bridge Street
to do is become a fan of the Miss Rodeo America
Vernonia, O8 97064
Facebook page. To see photos of contestants and
503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050
additional pageant information please visit www.
www.muffys.com
missrodeoamerica.com.
World Headquarters Vernonia, Oregon
“Like” Your Vote for the
Next Miss Rodeo America
Vote for Vernonia’s Mackenzie
Carr, 2011 Miss Rodeo Oregon
7
tending beauty school in Portland. She
opened her beauty shop in the JCPenney
building on the corner of Madison and
Bridge. Ken’s family lived at 158 North
Street in Vernonia, which never flooded
until 1996. Ken’s father Tom passed
away in 1968; Ina passed away in 2005.
Hitting the books in college paid
off for Ken, as he landed a job at Dunn
and Bradstreet in 1969, the same year
man first landed on the moon. A world-
wide commercial credit and informa-
tion gathering firm, Ken stayed at Dunn
and Bradstreet through 1988. The job
required a lot of travel out of state. He
left that job and purchased Vernonia Re-
alty and Insurance, selling the Insurance
agency five years ago and continuing to
operate the realty office with wife Helen.
Ken, married to Helen, a Banks
High School grad, still reside in the same
1250 square foot house they raised four
children in, and are happily expecting
their tenth grandchild.
Ken’s favorite vacation memo-
ry: the one week fishing trip he took to
Vancouver Island in 1991.
One last story Ken wanted to
share—his beginner’s luck hunting sto-
ry: “I was a freshman in high school
and my dad and his buddy, Cecil John-
son, took me on a hunting trip to teach
me the ropes. They had me sit on a tree
stump that overlooked a fifty foot cliff,
and walked away in separate directions
to scout the area. I was quietly sitting
there, rifle in hand, when a forked deer
walked right in front of me. Well I guess
I should do what I am here to be taught,
so BAM, off went the rifle and down
went the deer over the cliff. After a few
moments, still sitting on the stump, I
turned to the right and there was another
three point buck. Well, what was I to do,
so BAM went the rifle and down went
the buck over the cliff. Right after that
moment, to my left, there came another
three pointer, running out from behind
me. I swung around and BAM, off went
the rifle and down went the deer over the
cliff.”
“My dad and Cecil came run-
ning back. ‘We heard shots!’ they ex-
claimed. ‘Did you get him?’ I told them
I shot three deer and they said I must
have shot the same one three times and I
said, nope each one went over the cliff.”
Talk about beginners luck—
three shots, three dead deer, three tags
filled.
Thanks Ken for sharing your
memories with our Vernonia’s Voice
readers.
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