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September 22, 2017
T he C olumbia P ress
Hall of Fame: Sports supporters, teams to be honored
Continued from Page 1
all sports and an innate sense of
fairness as well as a performer’s
flair, which made him the best
announcer in the state, organiz-
ers said.
Chase grew up in Warrenton,
spent 22 years in the Air Force
and Navy and earned a teaching
degree upon his return to the
city. He taught at Knappa Ju-
nior High for 20 years, helping
them establish a sports program
there.
“Ed was professional, impar-
tial and a real entertainer,” or-
ganizers said. “Ed also volun-
teered his services at car shows,
auctions and assorted fund-rais-
ers. He has always been a stunch
supporter of WHS athletics and
made Warrenton proud.”
J oannE h EllBErg
Hellberg is being honored for
31 years of service as an edu-
cator, 29 of them at Warrenton
Grade School.
She was administrator over
the school district’s Title 1 pro-
gram, which ensures schools
with high numbers of children
from low-income families meet
state academic standards. Hell-
berg and longtime aide Lois
Searles coordinated a reading
room that helped struggling stu-
dents excel.
“She was truly devoted to her
students and was always de-
lighted by their successes in the
classroom and life,” organizers
said.
She retired from the district
in 1997, but continued her life’s
passion of enlightening young
readers by writing four chil-
dren’s books with Scandina-
vian themes. She also became a
Court Appointed Special Advo-
cate for children.
m isty W adE t ynkila
Wade, a Northwest League
most valuable player in basket-
ball, graduated from WHS in
1995. She holds the record for
single-game scoring (40 points),
blocked shots at a state tourna-
ment (eight), and field goals in a
game (19).
After high school, Wade at-
tended Portland Community
College, where she helped turn
their program around, earning
more wins than any other PCC
team in history.
Upon graduation, she married
Jason Tynkila and the couple
live in Ilwaco with their three
children. She continues to coach
youth teams and heads up the
Peninsula Youth Basketball
League. She also has competed
in the Portland women’s basket-
ball fund-raiser for the Human
Rights Campaign.
B utCh J ohnson
Johnson, who lives in War-
renton, was an all-league third
baseman and part of the 1975
and 1976 WHS semifinal base-
ball teams. But his work after
high school makes him a de-
served inductee.
“After graduation, Butch be-
gan a 40-year career giving back
to the community he loves,” or-
ganizers said.
He volunteers at Warrenton
High School and coaches in the
Babe Ruth programs and has
spent more than four decades
officiating baseball, softball and
basketball in the region. He
has worked 13 state basketball
tournaments, 40 state base-
ball games and 25 state softball
games. He also organized offi-
cials for community sports.
d iCk m aizE
Maize, who graduated from
Warrenton High in 1955, was an
all-around athlete, playing foot-
ball, basketball, baseball, track
and golf.
After graduating from Oregon
State, he returned to Warrenton
and rain Maize’s Market with
his wife, Ann.
He served on Warrenton’s
School Board, City Commission
and was president of Warrenton
Chamber of Commerce for four
years.
He has sponsored Little
League teams, served as an in-
structor for Astoria Country
Club’s golf programs and as a
state youth golf chairman.
1971 f ootBall t Eam
This is the only undefeated
team in Warrenton history and
it occurred during their first year
in the tougher A league. Four of
their wins were by shutout. Two
were tie games.
“During this era, athletics at
WHS were at a high point as the
athletes’ willingness to compete
led to success in all sports with
their basketball team winning 18
games and qualifying for state,”
according to organizers.
The team was coached by Ray
Downs and Bob Cole. At the
end of the season, Downs told
a reporter: “They were the best
bunch of boys I ever had.”
Team members: Darcy Bjork,
Don Dyer, Mike Curnow, Bill
Earls, Steve Rogers, Kenny Dean,
David Hoffman, Joe Welch,
Duane Keller, Scott Crites, Phil
D’Agostino, Mike Rogers, Mike
Brim, Terry Wheatley, Al Lyons,
Danny Dunn, Mike Balensifer,
Lee White, Kurt Kirscher, Bill
Harney, Robin Bergerson, Tad
Primus, Jim Harney, Bill Baldwin,
Eric Carlson and Dennis Bjork.
1978-80 g irls t raCk
The teams, coached by Jes-
sie Wallace, were arguably the
best-run of any sports teams in
Warrenton history, organizers
said. Each finished second at the
state meet and two won district
championships.
They earned 14 individual
state champions and 20 who
finished in the top three. Com-
bined, the teams had 10 WHS
all-time track bests, records that
have held up for four decades.
Individual members of the
teams: Susan Gramson, Kim
Williams, Jill Dunham, Cynthia
Shepard, Judy Hoff, DeeAnn
McCoy, Dianne Davis, Debbie
Warren, Julie Maize, Kay Han-
na, Allyson Oakley, Georgan
Pearch, Shellie Nyberg, Sher-
ry Conner, Cheryl Nichols, Pat
Rosenburg, Arlene Klingerman,
Diane Gertulla, Jackie Cooper,
Cassie Gramson, Allison Birk-
holz, Stacey Hansen, Dawna
Horton and Barbara Havner.