EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The story of the 1974 Heppner High School 4x100 relay team
-Continued from PAGE ONE
athletes. In early morning
handball sessions with
Mike Bergstrom, Starr
worked to build Mike’s
skills and confidence, par-
ticularly since Mike had a
limited interest in academ-
ics. Assistant Coach Dale
Conklin also played a vital
role, motivating the team
during critical moments,
while Dean Naffziger con-
tributed his expertise and
leadership as both a coach
and athletic director.
The Relay Team: From
Dirt Track to State
Champions
Each member of the
4x100 relay team brought
unique strengths to their
leg of the race, helping se-
cure their record-breaking
time and solidifying their
place in school history.
First Leg: Matt Greenup
Background: A 1974
Heppner High School
graduate, Matt transferred
from David Douglas High
School for his junior and
senior years. He lived with
his aunt and uncle, Don
and Colleen Greenup, on
Kilkenny Ranch. Matt’s
parents, Clarence and Rita
Greenup, remained sup-
portive from afar. Known
for his explosive start,
Matt was selected to run
the first leg due to his pow-
erful block starts and reli-
able speed.
Athletics and Music:
A versatile athlete, Matt
also played football as a
halfback and was a talent-
ed drummer. He played in
the Ackley Greenup Band,
performing for various lo-
cal events from 1973 to
1985. His connection to
Heppner’s band director,
Jim Ackley, a fellow musi-
cian, led him to perform in
other local bands.
Career and Family:
After high school, Matt
worked in logging along-
side his brother, Mark, be-
fore moving to Portland.
He became a master weld-
er, working from Portland,
Maine, to Dutch Harbor,
Alaska. Later, he worked at
the Umatilla Army Depot
until an injury, then spent
over 20 years working on
the French Ranch. He now
resides in Pendleton with
Susie French. Matt has a
son Jeff.
Matt’s Memory: “Coach
Conklin gave me a thumbs-
up before the race, and
that’s all I needed.”
Second Leg: Mike Berg-
strom
Background: Mike
was known for his strength
and endurance, which
helped him maintain the
team’s early lead. He was
married to Michele Earns
Bergstrom for 48 years,
with two children, Megan
and Matt. His parents, Bob
Bergstrom and Marlene,
along with Randall Peter-
son, supported his athletic
ambitions.
Athletics: Mike was
a three-sport athlete and
a standout in football,
basketball, and track. He
credited Coach Starr for
his successes, noting how
Starr would pull him into
the gym for early-morning
handball sessions to en-
hance his agility and reac-
tion time.
Career: After high
school, Mike worked in
agriculture, primarily in
irrigation
management,
eventually serving as the
Irrigation Director for Agri
Northwest for 42 years. He
now works as a consultant
for Umatilla County Irriga-
tion and is an avid golfer.
Relay Memory from
Mike: “Matt handed off
the baton with everyone in
good shape for leg 1. I was
able to gain another stride
or two for the lead, and
Karl maintained and grew
it further. He gave the ba-
ton to John Boyer with a
slim Heppner lead. John
held off Chris Moore from
Sherman, who was the
fastest sprinter in the state,
to win the gold medal and
set a new school record
in the 4x100-yard relay at
44.9 seconds.”
Third Leg: Karl Harri-
son
Background: Karl and
his family moved to Hep-
pner in the early 1970s.
His father, Dave Harri-
son, was the manager of
Columbia Basin Electric
Co. and was instrumental
in establishing the high
school’s dirt track. Karl’s
parents, David and Norma
Harrison, supported his
athletic achievements, and
his father’s involvement
in the track’s construction
was particularly meaning-
ful to him.
Athletics and Career:
Karl was a standout three-
sport athlete, excelling
in football, baseball, and
track. After high school, he
worked in the well-drilling
industry in Spokane, WA,
before relocating to Port-
land, where he managed
the jewelry department
at Fred Meyer and later
worked in sales at Frennco
Furniture. Although unable
to attend the 50th reunion
due to health issues, his
impact on the team re-
mains celebrated.
Karl’s Memory: “We
felt the whole town behind
us.”
Anchor: John Boyer
Background: John,
the final runner, is the
brother-in-law of Karl
Harrison and the husband
of Kelly Harrison Boyer.
The couple has two chil-
dren, Brooke and Tyler.
John’s parents, Mel and
Anita Boyer, were an inte-
gral part of his life, as was
his sister, Valerie.
Athletics: A dynamic
three-sport athlete, John
excelled in football, bas-
ketball, and baseball. His
talent led to All-American
status in basketball, and
he was selected to play in
the Shrine Game, where he
earned MVP honors.
Career: John began
his career working along-
side his father at Gar Avi-
ation, where he learned
to fly from a young age.
He dedicated his career
to being a spray pilot,
eventually taking over the
family business, which he
managed until his recent
retirement. Throughout his
career, John and his wife,
Kelly, have been active
supporters of the South
MC community, contribut-
ing to athletics, academics,
youth programs, 4-H, and
FFA. Now retired, John
enjoys spending his time
on the golf course.
John’s Memory: “It
was a nice day, and the
crowd was huge.”
The Dedication
On September 7 2024,
a special event commemo-
rated the 50th anniversary
of Heppner’s record-set-
ting 4x100 relay team.
During the 50th class
reunion, gold batons en-
graved with each mem-
ber’s name and the record
time of 44.9 seconds were
awarded, along with com-
memorative T-shirts in
the school’s colors, fea-
turing the team members’
names and their remark-
able achievement. Mike
Bergstrom and John Boyer
received their engraved ba-
tons and T-shirts at the re-
union, while arrangements
were made to ensure that
Matt Greenup and Karl
Harrison, who were unable
to attend, would receive
theirs.
“These four boys did
something incredible on a
small dirt track, and their
record still stands today.
We wanted to honor their
achievement, their friend-
ship, and the way they
inspired a whole genera-
tion,” shared Susan Healy
Hisler, a 1974 Heppner
High School graduate and
a dedicated supporter of
the school’s athletic leg-
acy. Susan eventually be-
came the Heppner junior
high track coach for over a
decade.
In 2005, Susan helped
raise the final $40,000
needed to transform Hep-
pner High School’s dirt
track into a six-lane, rub-
berized one. This vision
was first set in motion by
former principal Wade
Smith, who mastermind-
ed the construction of the
six-lane track, a crucial
upgrade that expanded ath-
letic opportunities for fu-
ture generations. The trib-
ute celebrated more than
just the team’s success; it
honored Heppner’s endur-
ing community spirit and
the dedication of coaches
like Chuck Starr and Dale
Conklin, who believed in
their athletes’ potential.
Additionally,
Dale
Conklin’s stat booklet—a
compilation of team and
individual records—has
become a source of moti-
vation for countless young
athletes. By document-
ing the school’s athletic
achievements and setting
benchmarks,
Conklin’s
booklet has inspired gen-
erations to strive to break
records and earn a place on
the all-time top 10 list, fu-
eling a legacy of ambition
and pride within Heppner’s
track and field community.
The Race: A Re-
cord-Breaking
Perfor-
mance
On the day of the state
championship, the Hep-
pner relay team delivered
an unforgettable perfor-
mance. The meet was held
at Pleasant Hill on a rubber
track, a distinct advan-
tage over the dirt track the
team was accustomed to
at home for both practic-
es and local meets. Matt’s
explosive start put them
in a strong position, Mike
maintained their lead, and
Karl further extended it.
When John took the baton,
he faced tough competi-
tion from Chris Moore of
Sherman, one of the fast-
est sprinters in the state.
But John held on, crossing
the finish line with a time
of 44.9 seconds, setting a
new school record. This
record, measured in yards
rather than meters, remains
unbroken after 50 years—a
testament to the team’s
skill, determination, and
the support they received.
Heppner High School
Today: A Legacy Built on
Community Spirit
Thanks to the dedica-
tion of community mem-
bers, Heppner High School
has grown significantly
since the days of the dirt
track. In 2005, a new six-
lane rubber track was built.
Apparent progress made amid continued tension on CDA board
-Continued from PAGE ONE been ambiguity about who tion back on the table and
a little more tied up in the
corners and have a written
form,” he said.
Puzey said he agreed
but advised a high-level
view of what had been ac-
complished.
“At the Pentagon in
March of ’23, the staff got
us across the finish line
with the largest transfer of
federal property to a local
authority in 20 years, and
the fourth largest in the
nation’s history,” Puzey
said. “I don’t know how
you describe a lack of per-
formance for a staff who got
to that point.”
At that point, Tovey
called for a point of order,
saying they were supposed
to discuss the evaluation
process, not conduct an
evaluation.
“And that’s what you’re
doing, Mr. Puzey, is trying
to evaluate the actual per-
formance of the staff,” he
said. “What we’re trying
to do is to create a process
by which we do the evalu-
ation.”
Puzey commented that
they were searching for
attorneys to help with the
process, but Taylor said
he didn’t think it was nec-
essary.
“This board could do
it,” he said.
Morrow County Board
of Commissioners alter-
nate David Sykes agreed.
“What’s the purpose of
having attorneys do this
process?” he asked. “I don’t
understand what you want
the attorney involved for.”
Taylor presented the
Port’s evaluation form and
said that, while it might
not be perfect, he would
suggest using it.
“It’s a nice, easy form,”
he said.
Puzey said he had no
objections. Umatilla BOC
representative John Schafer
said the board had dis-
cussed evaluation forms at
its Oct. 11 meeting, but he
thought part of the issue had
Smith worked for.
“Did he work for us
or for the Port?” he asked.
“If he’s not our employee,
why are we doing the eval-
uation? But it sounds like
we’re getting closer to an
acceptable answer and, if
we have that answer, why
don’t we just use those
forms?”
“Does the staff want
to put together a proposed
form?” asked Puzey.
“No,” Schafer replied
quickly. “We don’t want
the staff to put together an
evaluation form to evaluate
themselves.”
Puzey commented that
it could at least be a starting
point for the board.
When asked, Smith re-
plied that he thought his last
evaluation had been seven
or eight years ago.
“And from that point on
we just navigated within the
grant process,” Smith said.
Sykes suggested the
board form a committee
to create a process. Taylor
and Puzey both agreed to be
on the committee and said
they would have something
prepared by the November
meeting.
Puzey said he would
like to see the CDA board
resolve its problems and
move forward.
“I don’t know how
many times I have said I
would work with you, and I
will say that again,” he said
to Schafer. “In the absence
of that, we continue in this
state of conflict.”
He added that he would
like to see the staff back at
the salary that was recom-
mended in the contract with
the federal government.
“I think they are doing
an awesome job,” he said
pointing out that one staff
member was already ab-
sent. “We have issues that
need to be resolved or we’re
going to be in worse shape
than we are now.”
Schafer seemed to
agree. “Let’s put that mo-
let’s get that resolved so we
can start working again,”
he said.
After what seemed to
be a grunt from Smith,
Schafer turned to him and
said, “You say no?”
“I didn’t say anything,”
Smith responded. “It’s up to
you five.”
Meanwhile, Tovey said
he took exception to the
notion that Doherty and he
were responsible for ten-
sion on the board.
“Some of this is actual-
ly effective oversight,” he
said. “The fact that we don’t
have an operational budget,
the fact that an individual
thought that an approval of
a grant equated to a salary
increase, that’s effective
oversight of public funds.”
“I do not take any of the
blame for any of the con-
sternation that’s happening
on the board when I am
trying to provide effective
oversight for public funds
and a public organization.,”
he added.
Smith apologized and
said he would ask members
to read the narrative in the
budget before voting in the
future.
When it came to the
ongoing litigation between
Umatilla County and CTU-
IR and the other three mem-
bers of the board, Schafer
said he had a proposal he
thought everyone would
agree to but that he needed
to have it on the agenda to
discuss it. He said Puzey
refused to put the issue on
the agenda.
“I want everybody to
hear that you’re refusing
to put a fix that all five
members would agree to
on the agenda,” Schafer
told Puzey.
Puzey replied that the
issue had been put on the
agenda twice and that a
second vote had reaffirmed
the action, but that the Port
of Umatilla would be happy
to meet and work some-
thing out.
“We have repeatedly
put it out to you, John, that
we will work with you, we
will work with you, we’ll
work with you, but we are
under the constraint of the
lawsuit because we are de-
fendants in a suit that you
brought against us,” Puzey
said.
He added that Schafer
had repeatedly called him
a liar. Schafer replied that
he had not called him a liar
but had said he negotiated
in bad faith. He also said he
would not discuss his idea
with other board members
outside of a CDA meeting
due to meeting laws.
“You said you want to
work with me?” he added.
“Then put this on the agen-
da, because you don’t know
what I’m going to say.”
Tovey moved to have scheduled meeting of the
Schafer’s item put on the CDA is November 26 at
next agenda and to have the 1 p.m.
Umatilla County commis-
YOUR AD
sioner send out information
to all board members prior
COULD
to the meeting.
BE
“All we’ll be doing is
getting that information
HERE!
and then we can have a
further discussion on it,”
said Tovey.
Call
Sykes commented that
he understood the need
541-676-9228
to get the ball rolling but
Or Email
said it was difficult to have
discussions with a lawsuit
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hanging over their heads.
“It can all go away,”
We also offer
said Schafer, “but you’ve
design and
got to hear the proposal.”
The board voted unan-
printing services
imously to put Schafer’s
Heppner Gazette-Times
discussion item on the No-
vember agenda. The next
Sykes Printing
ELECT
JOHN L.
BALLARD
With 25 years of experience serving Umatilla and Morrow
Counties, I stand independent and accountable to the people
- not appointed by the governor, not run from Portland, and with zero
campaign funds from outside the state. In fact, I’ve accepted no funds
from anyone. I appreciate your support and vote on November 5, 2024
- John Ballard
PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JOHN L. BALLARD CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
FOR CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE