6 FEBRUARY 1,2007
Smoke Signals
Sports,
Industry, Tribal Council Make For A Good
Tribal Elder "Chips" Tom at the
2006 Elder Honor Day.
TOM continued
from front page
everyday life." He remembers
helping his father gather whatever
they were going to need for winter.
He remembers things being a lot
slower then.
"And we didn't have any Cadillacs
or fancy cars then either," he said.
He then spoke of a big party held
above the store (Grand Ronde Shop
ping Center) around Christmas
time when he was a kid.
"Everyone in town would get to
gether and dance," he said. "That
old store is still there. I think there
is someone living up there now."
Then it was time for the long
awaited question: "So, how did you
get the name 'Chips,"' I asked.
With a smirk and a chuckle, Tom
responded.
"Years ago, when I was about
six or seven years old, an Indian
man lived next door to my aunt
and uncle and his name was Chip
Wheeler. I was walking to my aunt
and uncle's house because they
always had cookies, candy or cake.
Chip's place was before you got to
there's so I thought I would stop
in," he continued. "Chip always
had an apple or some damn thing.
He wasn't home so I got to looking
around his place and I found where
he hid his home brew. I sniped one
of those bottles and went out behind
the wood shed. I took about two
drinks and passed out right there.
That's where I was all afternoon
until Chip found me," he said. "My
uncle is the one that hung the name
"Chips" on me and it's been with me
ever since."
About a decade after acquiring
the name "Chips," Tom would go
on to develop what some would
consider legendary status in the
Willamina athletics program.
A LIFE IN SPORTS
Back when things were a lot slow
er in the Grand Ronde community,
(around the mid to late 40's), Tom
was keeping the Willamina sports
activities at a very fast pace. Tom
explained that athletic ability came
easy to him.
"I was blessed with a family that
was very athletic," said Tom. "Doth
sides of my family had all kinds of
ball players so catching a ball and
throwing it just came natural to
me."
Tom lettered in all of the three
sports that he played; baseball,
basketball and football. He played
third base and catcher in baseball,
forward and guard in basketball
and fullback in football. When
asked which sport was his favorite,
Tom said that none of them stood
out above the rest.
"I just loved to play ball," he
said.
Tom's sports involvement was
constantly acknowledged by his
peers, coaching staff and the com
munity. "Chips is arguably the finest
athlete that ever attended Wil
lamina High," said Ron Pedersen in
a letter written to Smoke Signals.
Pedersen also played ball with Tom
while attending high school from
1946 to 1948.
"It was my privilege to play ball
with the absolute best!" said Peder
sen. 'These were the years of Chips'
legendary exploits. I have yet to
see an athlete with his virtuosity
and this is from the perspective
of playing in the military, college,
semi-pros as well as teaching and
coaching for many years," he said.
Tom's athleticism was not only
creating a local buzz but schools
from the northwest were showing
interest in him too. Tom explained
that he received letters from Oregon
State University, the University of
Washington and a couple of schools
in California who were wishing to
recruit him. Also, the rumors of the
hard-hitting, bruising fullback had
reached not only the east coast but
on the professional level as well.
"At that time, the New York
Giants were interested in me for
football," said Tom. "Their staff
contacted my coach, Peter Gretsch,
and the principle, Dan Hyatt, and
they came and talked to me."
He explained that raising a fam
ily and the lack of a secured posi
tion on the team was giving him
second thoughts.
'To be honest, I couldn't stand the
idea of not being able to make it,"
he said, "which is all nonsense right
now looking back at it. I'm pretty
sure I could have made it."
In 1947, Tom also played in the
first ever football game under the
stadium lights for Willamina. He
explained that it was very exciting
for him and his teammates.
"It was a big deal for us," stated
Tom. "To me it wasn't a bad situa
tion. It was the difference between
daylight and dark. We just had to
adjust a little."
Instead of the National Football
League, Tom's focus was now con-
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Grand Ronde basketball team in the 1930's. Little boy in front holding the ball is Merle Leno. Standing from left to right: Don Denver (5), Rowland Jackson
(7), Leon "Chips"Tom, Bill Riggs (3), boy at top of pyramid is unidentified, Gus Bannach, Lloyd "Coke" Riggs (4), Russ Leno (9).