OCTOBER 15, 2002
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
www.grandronde.org
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He Runs Everyday Anyone who lives in the Grand Ronde area can tell
you of having sighted Tribal Elder Don Simmons working out by running and
biking up and down Grand Ronde Road during his daily workout routine.
Simmons said he feels Spirit Mountain (in the background) is a spiritual place
and appreciates living back home in Grand Ronde again.
Elder's Feature:
The Matuiire Boy
Grand Ronde Tribal Elder Don Simmons, at
60, is a physical wonder and might just be in
the best shape of his life.
By Peta Tinda
Tribal Elder Don Simmons
walked briskly into the room,
wearing a tank top and run
ning shoes. He had just finished
jogging two miles and wasn't even
breathing hard. He exuded energy
and moved with the ease of some
one half his age. His eyes, bright
and clear, sparkled with life and
vigor.
He walked out in front of his
apartment at the Elders' housing
in Grand Ronde and pointed at
Spirit Mountain.
"When Harry S. Truman was
president," he said, "I stood up on
that hill and looked down on this
very spot. . .there is something spiri
tual up there, something about that
place, it makes you think you could
fly."
Donald Herbert Simmons, son of
Samuel Patschal Simmons and
Helen Lucille (Yoctorowic)
Simmons, was born in 1942. He
was delivered at Chemawa Indian
School, as were five of his six sib
lings. They lived in Grand Ronde,
in a house that is still there today.
Back then McPherson road was
called "Wine Alley." It was fitting
that they lived there, said
Simmons, since his father was an
alcoholic his entire life.
"We were always poor; my dad
drank and it was painful. We
didn't have what other kids had,"
Simmons said. "I remember going
to the first grade picnic and not
having fifty cents for lunch. 50
cents was a not really a lot of money
even in the 40's, but most of the
time we didn't have it because our
dad drank too damn much... that's
what I remember most about the
time," Simmons said. "The hardest
part was seeing my mother suffer,
because it was so hard on her. I
still think about her on a daily ba
sis." We go inside and sit in the living
room. Two orange kittens dash
madly through the house, in one
door and out the other. The kitten's
mother peers at us from outside.
Don has lots of cats. He takes in all
the strays in the area. People just
bring him cats, because they know
he'll take care of them.
Simmons continued on page 4
eMpLoyees ceLesRAie casino's i years
By Ron Karten
Bill Pierce, Spirit Mountain Casino's
Interim Chief Executive Officer, did the
honors, but the plaque honoring 1,480
employees came from Spirit Mountain
Gaming's Board of Directors.
It recognized "its hard working em
ployees" for "Exemplary Service, Com
mitment to Quality, Dedication to
Duty," with a plaque presented to
Laurie Roe, the Casino's Organization
Development and Training manager,
on behalf of "Spirit Mountain's Most
Valuable Asset."
Tribal member Mike Cook, Mainte
nance Technician in the Casino's Fa
cilities Department, expressed a spe
cial pride in being among them.
"I look forward to coming to work,"
he said. "I work with some really
great guys in maintenance."
Cook is one who came to the casino
from the logging industry that has
dwindled as the Casino has grown.
"It's a little safer in here," he joked.
He remembered with great enjoyment
"working in rain, snow, hail, whatever."
His family was a logging family, with
at one time his dad running yarder, his
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
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brother, Mark, a
chaser, his brother Pat,
pulling rigging, and
himself setting chok
ers. "They called it the
Cook side," he said.
Service in Vietnam
interrupted life in the
woods for Cook, and
then a terrible acci
dent interrupted it
again, though he went
back to logging for a
time. He was driving logging trucks
when his brother, Mark, who had
moved over to working in the casino,
asked him to join him. That was just
about six years ago, and now Cook and
his wife, Terry, work at the casino.
He could have been echoing the
words of Casino Marketing Director
Adam Henny, who told a crowded
room of employees, "It's your great ser
vice that has made Spirit Mountain
the success it is."
"I want to thank everybody for be
ing here from before the beginning,"
said Mike Larsen, Former Chairman
Development and Training Manager Laurie Roe holds
a plaque presented by new casino CEO Bill Pierce
(right) while Tribal member Mike Larsen looks on.
of the Spirit Mountain Gaming, Inc.
Board of Directors and Facilities Man
ager for the Tribe. "This thing has
been a great adventure from day one.
The Tribe is very thankful for what
you've done for us and for yourselves."
Roe, Training Specialist Jackie Van
Cleave and the Hospitality on Target
(HOT) team, comprising representa
tives from all of the casino depart
ments, pulled the event together.
The Spirit Mountain Casino has
ppme a long way since 600 employees i
got the place started. "Happy seven
years, Spirit Mountain!" said Roe. B