Page 10 The Skanner July 19, 2017
News
OBITUARY:
Ethel Roberta Simon - McWilliams
World News
Briefs
WASHINGTON (AP) — President
Donald Trump had another, previously
undisclosed conversation with Russian
President Vladimir Putin at a summit
in Germany this month.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer
and National Security Council spokes-
man Michael Anton confirmed that
Trump and Putin spoke at a dinner for
world leaders and their spouses at the
Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Ger-
many.
The conversation came hours after
Trump and Putin’s first official face-to-
face meeting on July 7, which was origi-
nally scheduled to last just half an hour
but stretched on for more than two. The
two world leaders were also captured
on video shaking hands and exchang-
ing a few words after they arrived at
the G-20 summit of industrialized and
developing nations earlier that day.
Anton would not specify the duration
of the conversation. But he said the dis-
cussion was casual and should not be
characterized as a “meeting” or even a
less formal, but official, “pull-aside.”
“A conversation over dessert should
not be characterized as a meeting,” he
said.
Trump Making Last-Ditch
Effort After Health Bill
Collapse
WASHINGTON (AP) — President
Donald Trump says it’s probably time
to “just let Obamacare fail” after the
latest humiliating heath bill collapse
in the Senate. Still, he’s making a last-
ditch effort to find some way to revive
his party’s seemingly failed efforts on
D
AP PHOTO/ANDREW HARNIK
Trump Had Second
Conversation with Putin in
Germany
May 25, 1939 - July 12, 2017
From left, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
of Ky., Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas.,
and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., leave the White House
in Washington, Wednesday, July 19, 2017, to speak
to members of the media following a luncheon with
President Donald Trump and other GOP leadership.
the bill.
Trump stayed largely on the sidelines
as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
struggled unsuccessfully to round up
support to make good on the GOP’s
years of promises to repeal and replace
former President Barack Obama’s
health care law. But with McConnell’s
third and final effort — on a repeal-only
bill — looking like it, too, had collapsed,
Trump urged McConnell to delay a
make-or-break vote until early next
week.
And the president invited all GOP
senators to the White House for lunch
Wednesday to discuss a path forward.
Trump pulled a similar move in June
after McConnell fell short on his first
health care effort, and it yielded no ap-
parent results. Indeed Trump seated
himself between two GOP senators —
Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Mur-
kowski of Alaska — who announced
Tuesday they would oppose McCon-
nell’s efforts to move forward with the
latest bill.
Along with opposition from a third
GOP senator, Shelley Moore Capito of
West Virginia, that was enough to kill
the legislation. McConnell can lose
only two votes and still move forward
in the closely divided Senate.
r.
Ethel
Si-
Communications, Inc.
mon-McWil-
Portland
Chapter;
liams was born
“Distinguished Ser-
in Washington,
vice Award,” Gram-
D.C. on May 25, 1939,
bling State University
the second of four
and the “Aubrey Wat-
children of the late
zel Leader in Busi-
Robert Simon, Sr. and
ness and Community
Erma K. Simon.
Award,” Lewis and
Educated in the Dis-
Clark College. She ap-
trict of Columbia Pub-
pears in the “Who’s
lic School System she
Who in the West”, 18th
graduated third in her
Edition, 1982/83.
Spingarn High School
Ethel dedicated her
Ethel Roberta Simon - McWilliams
class, received an un-
life to helping others.
dergraduate degree from D.C. Teach- She was known for her friendliness,
ers College, a master’s degree from intelligence, confidence, competence,
George Washington University and a beautiful smile, and her impeccable
doctoral degree in education from the “fashion sense” and poise. She gave
University of South Carolina.
freely and generously of her time
Her illustrious career took her to and finances to many, and worked
classrooms and administrative posi- hard on behalf of disadvantaged com-
tions in the D.C. and South Carolina munities. Ethel was a role model and
public school systems; Director of advisor to many. Throughout her
the Desegregation Assistance Cen- life she advised and mentored chil-
ter in South and North Carolina, the dren and adults. From first graders
University of South Carolina’s deseg- in Washington, D.C. public schools to
regation laboratory, and finally, she corporations and the entire national
retired in June of 2001 as Executive education scene, Ethel’s presence and
Director and Chief Executive Officer positive work left a definite mark on
of the Northwest Regional Educa- the lives of many children, schools
tional Laboratory in Portland. This and communities. It has been written
position afforded her the opportunity that she left a lasting legacy strength-
to have long-standing contacts with ening education in Portland, where
decision-makers in the Washington she resided for many years. She was
bureaucracies. Guided by strong be- known regionally and nationally as
liefs, clear vision, ambitious goals, an effective manager, as an advocate
objectives and indicators, she led the who was very influential in ensuring
NWREL into the 21st century with re- equal opportunity for high quality
markable growth as a regionally and education for all, and for meaningful
nationally recognized and respected community involvement.
private research and development
Ethel has been a member of over 40
corporation. In 2001, after retiring, Committees/ Boards/Commissions
her friends established the Dr. Ethel some of which include the St. Vincent
Simon-McWilliams Scholarship Fund Hospital and Medical Center Board
in recognition of the critical changes (Chairperson, 1983) and Foundation,
she inspired throughout her career.
Oregon Symphony Association, Ore-
In 1998 she received honors from gon Public Broadcasting Commission,
the Black United Fund of Oregon. Linfield College Board of Trustees,
In 1994, she received the “Nation- The Boys and Girls Aid Society of
al Distinguished Service Award for Oregon (President, 1992-94), the U.S.
Outstanding Contributions to the Commission on Civil Rights, Board of
Desegregation of Public Schools”; in Directors of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of
1979 she received a similar award in Oregon, Pacific Power and Arthritis
South Carolina. Some of her accolades Foundation of Oregon Board.
include: “Women in History,” The Or-
Ethel leaves to cherish her memory
egonian newspaper; “Living Legend,” her brother, Robert Simon, Jr. (Do-
Willamette University; “Abigail Scott ris); sister, Patricia S. Frelow, daugh-
Duniway Award” for contributions ter, Lisa S. Jenkins, and son, Cornell
to the status of women, Women in “Chris” Jenkins (Wanda).