4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ MAY 18, 2016
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
E XTRAORDINARY P EOPLE
Wilbur Ternyik
C ATHERINE J. R OURKE
For the Siuslaw News
_____________
as a widely recognized dunes stabi-
lization and wetlands consultant. He
would eventually serve a total of 30
years as a Florence city councilor,
mayor and port commissioner dedi-
cated to making Florence a better
place to live.
According to Wilbur, higher edu-
cation had nothing to do with his
achievements.
“I never even finished high
school,” he said.
Yet Wilbur would create a thriving
landscaping business, work feverish-
ly for dunes stabilization and wet-
lands restoration, initiate port
improvements, hold multiple politi-
cal offices, spearhead landmark leg-
islation and become an influential
advocate for Oregon coastal man-
agement. He often testified before
legislative committees in Salem and
Washington, D.C., in tireless cam-
paigns to protect the coast’s natural
resources.
Instead of academia, Wilbur
learned about life from nature. But
before embarking on his coastal cru-
sades, Wilbur faced another kind of
battle at the tender age of 19, when
World War II taught him lessons of a
different kind.
As a Marine, he survived the bru-
tal battle of Okinawa where 50,000
Allies perished in 1945. Wilbur hid
for cover behind the dead body of a
Japanese soldier but was later struck
by gunfire. He endured nine painful
hours on the open battlefield before
rescuers carried him out on the very
stretcher he had brought in to save
others.
H
e’s got monumental
achievements behind him
plus a monument to prove
it, with a life-size bronze bust stand-
ing in the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum.
Commissioned in 2006 as a trib-
ute to Wilbur Ternyik’s pioneering
efforts in coastal conservation, it
captures his native American her-
itage and essence as a tireless cru-
sader and determined public servant,
with his signature buckskin jacket
and trademark tomahawk.
But for Wilbur, now 90, the dunes
and wetlands represent the real testa-
ment to his work, holding more
meaning and magic for him than any
bronze statue.
“The plants are what really matter
to me,” he said. “They’ve been my
best friend since I was a kid.”
Despite a lifetime dedicated to
managing coastal natural resources
and land use, Wilbur simply views
himself as man who loves nature —
the flora and fauna, the waterways
and wetlands, the dunes and the
ocean.
“That little lake out there we call
the Pacific… now that’s really
important,” he said. “I don’t have to
see it every day, but I have to be
close to it. That’s probably from my
Clatsop roots.”
Wilbur’s appreciation for the natu-
ral world began at an early age, fish-
ing, hunting
and trapping
“The most important thing that ever
near the
mouth of the
happened in my life is my wife.”
Columbia
—WILBUR TERNYIK
River. Born
in Astoria in
1926 and raised in Warrenton, he is
“It’s a weird thing being carried
a direct descendant of the famous
out on your own stretcher,” he said.
Clatsop Indian chief who met the
“The artillery, the mortars… it was
Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803.
incredible. I was the only one who
His early connection with nature
made it out alive.”
would later lead him to a profession
Wilbur returned to Oregon with a
Purple Heart and a flag he had dis-
covered in the helmet of the dead
Japanese soldier.
But it wasn’t until 56 years later
that he would return it to the sol-
dier’s family in 2001 through a con-
nection with the Japanese business-
man who built the Sandpines golf
course.
After cheating death, there’s noth-
ing left to fear in life. With the war
behind him, Wilbur returned to the
natural habitats he cherished from
childhood and took a job stabilizing
the migrating sand dunes in Clatsop
County with the Soil Conservation
Service.
After spending two years in the
field working with native plants, he
was transferred to Florence in 1946
where he established his own land-
scaping business, Wave Beachgrass
Nursery.
And then came the turning point
of his life when he met Joyce.
“The most important thing that
ever happened in my life is my
wife,” Wilbur said. “We need to
focus on our kids, families and sen-
iors; they’re more important than
anything else.”
Now married for 53 years, the
couple raised five children together
and still live in the same house they
purchased shortly after their wed-
ding. He and Joyce also spent 15
years rehabilitating wildlife, from
bears and birds to turtles.
“I love the people here and I love
the fishing,” Wilbur said. “This is a
great place to live. We have a great
city council. We have beautiful lakes
and so much natural beauty.”
During Wilbur’s 30 years as a
Florence city councilor, mayor and
port commissioner, he carried his
peripatetic tomahawk as a gavel to
restore order at public meetings.
“I almost broke it at one meet-
ing,” he said with a laugh. “I was
making a point and slammed it too
hard. It represents justice and dou-
bles as a peace pipe. So if we can’t
settle our business, we can at least
smoke a pipe.”
PHOTO BY CATHERINE ROURKE
Wilbur Ternyik will carry his trademark tomahawk as Grand Marshal
of the Rhody Fest’s Grand Floral Parade on Sunday, May 22.
A visionary ahead of his time,
Wilbur advocated for coastal land-
use management in 1970, long
before sustainability swept across
America.
He established the Oregon Coastal
Conservation and Development
Commission to create a balance
between land development and natu-
ral resource conservation, paving the
way for landmark legislation on
statewide land-use planning. Passed
in 1973, it served as a leadership
precedent for other states to follow.
A plaque at the bottom of
Wilbur’s statue features a quote from
former Gov. Tom McCall’s speech
upon the passage of that law: “The
interests of Oregon for today and in
the future must be protected from
grasping wastrels of the land.”
McCall must have had Wilbur in
mind when he added: “Heroes are
not giant statues framed against a
red sky. They are people who say:
‘This is my community, and it’s my
responsibility to make it better.’”
The “Sand Man of Florence” will
lead the 109th annual Rhododendron
Festival’s Grand Floral Parade as
Grand Marshal this Sunday, May 22,
at noon.
Give him a wave of appreciation
for all he’s done for Florence, for
Oregon and for our coast as he
waves his famous tomahawk at you.
______________________
Catherine J. Rourke is an award-
winning writer, journalist and book
editor who teaches creative writing
at the Florence Regional Arts
Alliance. She may be contacted at
CJReditor@gmail.com.
Thanks to Bob Richardson of the
Siuslaw Pioneer Museum and to
Cindy Wobbe for their assistance
with this story.
LETTERS
Warm fuzzies
As artistic director of Children’s Repertory of
Oregon Workshops (CROW) for the past five
years, there have been no shortage of warm and
fuzzy moments in my life.
I’ve witnessed children come out of their
shells through the power of the arts time and
time again. I’ve watched as exciting new friend-
ships have been forged, which are likely to last
a lifetime. I’ve seen kids helping kids up and
standing up for one another when the situation
called for it.
I’ve seen kids struggle, and then achieve, and
then struggle, and then achieve — much like
how “real life” works. I’ve seen kids rise to the
level of professionalism, respect and artistic
achievement that we set, and then I’ve marveled
as time and time again they’ve surpassed all of
our expectations.
I’ve also witnessed many of these same
things occur among our parents and volunteers
who dedicate themselves to making our shows,
projects and fundraisers possible and success-
ful. All these things are valid arguments for why
CROW does what we do.
But something else must really be mentioned.
That is the simple fact that we could not do
what we do if it weren’t for you, Florence.
Florence has opened its arms to our arts pro-
gram from the very beginning, supporting and
bolstering our confidence through the simple
acts of buying tickets, applauding our efforts
and providing valuable and honest feedback. I’d
like to personally thank everyone who attended
“Shrek the Musical, Jr.” as well as every single
individual, business, grant-maker or organiza-
tion who helped make the dream come true for
all of our children, cast and crew.
If I tried to name everyone who helped along
the way, I’d need to buy the Siuslaw News. So,
I’ll just say that if you have ever donated to
CROW, hung up a poster, attended a show, vol-
unteered your time and help, sponsored an
event or fundraiser, told your friends to come to
our show, or even just sent us your kind
thoughts from wherever you are, please know
that I’m sharing my warm fuzzies with you.
L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY
Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affecting the
Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed
letters must be signed.
All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full
name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for
length, grammar and clarity.
Publication of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on space available and the
volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters as well as poetry will not
be published. All submissions become the property of Siuslaw News and will not be
returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Florence, you are a treasure of a town. Thank
you for believing in us.
Melanie Heard
Artistic Director of CROW, Florence
Give me a break
You have to be kidding me! Just a few months
ago ODOT resurfaced Rhododendron Drive, now
Florence is getting ready to tear it up to put sewer
or some kind of line in. Genius, right?
I know, I know. ODOT resurfaced the road
and didn’t tell the powers that be of Florence.
Florence had nothing to do about it, right?
Somebody at Florence was aware that Florence
was going to put some sort of line in
Rhododendron before ODOT resurfaced it,
right? Somebody at ODOT or Florence couldn’t
communicate with each other? Give me a break.
Ridiculous.
I’m sure somebody from Florence City Hall
or ODOT will have some lame-brain excuse.
Then we wonder why our taxes are what they
are. Waste! Waste! Waste! No excuse for it.
Carl Slusser
Florence
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Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
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Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
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www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us