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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1979)
P«gf»4 Portland Observar Thursday. May 17. 1979 Behind the Wall American State Bank Larry Baker 135021, O.S.P. Correspondent ___ ’ ‘ The Bank that integration built " 2737 N.E. Union A man and his prison It is better to do a good deed near home, than travel a thousand miles to burn incense. Chinese Pro verb You don’t have to ask Hoyt C. Cupp what Oregon State Peniten tiary is all about. On any given day, he’ll be tnori than glad to tell you. And i f that L n’t enough he w ill per sonally mak the arrangements to show you. This is or s uniqueness demon strated to th< public by the 52-vear- old Superin endent at O regon’ s maximum security prison. W hile many other prisons around the U.S. remain apprehensive and sensitive to exposure o f their daily operations, Cupp welcomes it. C upp’s m otto might go as follows: " I f you aint got nothin' to hide, you amt got nothin* to fear.” 282-2216 X graduated from North Salem High. When World War II came along, Cupp joined the Navy at the age of seventeen. Three years and nine m onths later he received an honorable discharge In M ay 1948, Cupp came to O.S.P. as a correctional officer. In November 1951 he was promoted tc sergeant and prom oted again to correctional lieutenant in June 1952. In 1956. Cupp graduated from the School o f C o rre ctio n a l A d m in i stra tio n , George W ashington University. When Cupp was promot ed to Captain on December 1, 1958 he transferred to a newly built insti tution, the Oregon Correctional In stitution. It wasn’t until July 1, 1967 that Cupp accepted the position as assis tant superintendent at O .C .I. and eight months later he returned to E SHOP IE N O W S 5 FOR BRAM OS you know V A R IE T IE S y o u Mfce S IZE S y o u w o u l 1 I - «V41 1 11 Mllw.wb.. • |«tb A » I « • • I « 3 3 ^ A M I ' « S » M *« b . A S I O 4 v l» 4 s n A la s t Bwrn«t«8a A * I O I .M n • N ss rkvsslsy . 33^ < W«»» A«/rw«l4s • M ill* »Isas • isb. O»w««s »0 B *»« • Itlñd •* 1 I O I v IU o t • C‘»V • Usd Or*«« a t » w i l l r s r x ia t . . . UNION OR COMPANY DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable asset. . . Cupp talks with Inmates Anthony Link and Anthony Raid. O.S.P. as acting warden. "W h e n Cupp came back home (O .S .P .),” a correctional o ffic e r (who wishes his name withheld) said, "Every employee and inmate in the prison knew Cupp would make sure he would be available to everyone in side these walls more than any other warden in Oregon’s penal history.” And true enough, Cupp has made this a fact over the years. H.C. Cupp’s professional talents did not come from classroom lec tures and academic textbooks. He bases his prison smoothness upon his experience and common sense. His real talents are found in his fairness in dealing w ith incarcerated in d i viduals in a human manner, as w it nessed by inmate A nthony Reid. “ M r. Cupp seems to me to be a man who w ill listen to what you have io say. And if you lay it on the line straight with him, he w ill help you. He w ill help you in every way he can, no matter i f you’ re Black, white or yellow. 1 can respect a man like that.” "C upp w ill give you full consid Hoyt Cupp helps inmates Wesley Sickmann and Ken Burham with their school work. What is the feeling o f the general population on so much public expo sure? Well, as one prisoner put it, "Sometimes you see so many ‘ free people’ in this ‘jo in t,’ that you have to go looking for a convict.” Many o f the inmates w ill not refer to O.S.P. as a ‘jo in t.’ The prison is becoming more commonly known as “ Cupp’s House.” Since the Oregon taxpayers are the landlords it’s kind o f neat seeing them take such an in terest in their property every now and then. How did "T h e M an” come to create this peaceful atmosphere in a 1,500 man prison? This institution is supposed to hold Oregon’ s most dangerous human beings and societies rejected misfits. Only Hoyt C. Cupp can answer that question. This is the month H.C. Cupp cele brates his 32nd year as an employee o f the State o f Oregon. So let’s take a closer look at the man whose name has become known throughout the State o f Oregon as the "Keeper of the Keys” in Salem, Oregon. Born in Salem on June 22, 1927 he attended public schools in Salem and eration if you’ re truthful with him ,” stated Wesley Sickmann (inmate). Respect, that was something Cupp worked hard to obtain, as shown by the different organizations he has been affiliated with: West Central W arden’ s and S uperintendent’ s A ssociation (past president); American Corrections Association; Oregon C orrections Association; American Association o f Wardens and Superintendents (officer); Police and Standard Training Board (ap pointed by G overnor H a tfie ld ); Board o f Directors, Salem Boy’ s C lu b ; Assistant Chairm an fo r U.G.N. o f Marion and Polk Coun ties; Member o f East Salem Rotary and Toastmasters; Past President of Salem S o ftb a ll, Basketball and W illam ette Valley Pistol League; M ember and Coach o f Oregon Police Team; and Board o f Direc tors, American Cancer Society. Now your health and that’s respect. W ith C u p p ’ s second home (O.S.P.) overcrowded with youthful offenders, he takes personal pride in encouraging them to obtain a high school education or an Associate Arts Degree. He also encourages them to take advantage o f vocational train ing programs inside the p riso n ’ s walls. Both programs were establish ed under Cupp’s administration. “ Cupp takes interest in my education,” says Anthony Link, age nineteen. “ And he’s a fair m an." Thirty-two years is a long time to dedicate ones life to serving people, but the amazing thing is that Hoyt C. C upp did not have to leave his hometown to do a good deed for the State o f Oregon. So how do you end a story o f a man who carries a fabulous career? Simple. You don’ t. appearance COMPLETE COOPERATION ON A L L D EN TAL INSURANCE C LAIM S WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS no appointment needed Come in at your convenience PARK FREE — Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekdays 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. Saturdays 8:30a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist S W 3RD b YAMHILL ST.. PORTLAND. OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST. ENTRANCE S f a t t e ^ E X O D U e á tc a á m a / a r u / S fâeedea 1518 N.E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1 284 7997 MAY 1979 EXODUS GROWS Reports its Director Rosalie Boothe 1. EXODUS is implementing Portland's first com munity-based Youth Theatre Alcohol Awareness Project, this project is funded by the Department of Labor. 2. EXODUS through its community Advisory Coun cil will implement the "EXODUS Forum", which is an information sharing service to the commu nity. The first forum presentation will be held at 12:30 p.m., May 17, 1979 at EXODUS Day- Treatment Center. '■'W 3. EXODUS has also grown to develop the "EXODUS Women Forum" which is composed of women in treatment of alcoholism, from care units, Portland hospitals, institutions, educational centers and agencies. «• -• I CATCHING ON — Everybody's practicing for the Urban 4-H disco dance and dance contest on the calendar for May 28th, from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Albina Arts Centar, 8 N.E. Killingsworth Theme for the event is "Come Catch the Rhythm of the S troke.” Sandra Hinton, Urban 4-H community worker, is in charge of arrangements for the dance announces Ira D Mumford. O8U extansion agent. Urban 4-H. Kim Kimmons. above center, teaches a group of disco fans how to catch the rhythm. 4. EXODUS graduated its third class on the "Triple R Concept" (Rights, Respect and Responsibility concept), April 7, 1979. EXODUS is fast becoming an important service cen ter to our community. With nearly 400 clients, and employing 16 full-time employees.