A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 2021
HERMISTON HISTORY
Harold Rankin named 1971
fair parade grand marshal
25 YEARS AGO
July 30, 1996
BLAINE GANVOA
History teacher and volleyball coach at
Stanfi eld Secondary School
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
In 2015 to be closer to my job. I used to live in
Boardman.
Where is your favorite place to eat in
Hermiston?
Don’t have one; prefer eating at home.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Road and mountain biking, along with hiking.
What surprises you about Hermiston?
The community support of youth activities.
What was the last book you read?
“Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown.
What website or app do you use most other
than Facebook?
I don’t have Facebook, I use Twitter.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you
go, and why?
Spain, to capture more of my heritage to pass on to
my kids.
What is the funniest thing that’s ever hap-
pened to you?
Nearly 200 gallons of sulfuric
acid gushed from a broken hose at
the Hermiston Generating Project
Friday, dousing a truck driver and
sending him to a Portland hospital.
Plant offi cials immediately
called the Hermiston Fire Depart-
ment’s Hazardous Materials Team
(Hazmat) to contain the leak.
Team members donned vinyl
full encapsulated chemical suits
with self-contained breathing sys-
tems, Nomex fi reproof jumpsuits
and face pieces and set up a decon-
tamination site with showers and
hose-down pools. Hazmat workers
battled the diffi culties of moving in
the bulky suits in addition to above
90 degree temperatures outside the
rubber suits.
Hermiston Fire Chief Jim Stea-
rns said temperatures inside the
suits can reach 130 degrees, forc-
ing team members to cut short
their individual time in a scene.
The Hazmat team contained the
spill and left the scene in just a few
hours, Stearns said.
shelters were moved from the army
depot to the fairgrounds, and these,
coupled with the two aluminum
buildings that were saved, pro-
vided the setting for the fair that
year.
Rankin manages to let a note of
pride slip through now and then in
spite of his essential modesty about
past accomplishments — and
there’s one particular building on
the Umatilla County Fairgrounds
that’s dear to his heart.
It’s the large show barn at the
southwest corner of the grounds,
and inscribed over the entry are the
words “Rankin Pavilion,” a trib-
ute to the many years of service
Rankin has volunteered to the fair.
75 YEARS AGO
July 25, 1946
Dissolution of the Hermis-
ton General Hospital Association
the benefi ts of the various hospitals
now operating under the plan.
One thousand memberships of
$100 per family is the goal of the
new plan and of the fee $10 will
be used in organization and solic-
itation work. Annual dues will be
50 YEARS AGO
July 29, 1971
Harold Rankin, who was named
by fair chairman Spike Piersol as
1971 parade Grand Marshal, is
an obvious choice to serve in this
capacity.
Rankin, who served as director
and president of the Hog and Dairy
Show before the Umatilla County
Fair became established over 30
years ago, was instrumental in get-
ting Hermiston chosen as the site
of the fair. He was appointed as a
director on the fi rst fair board, and
served as president of the board
and fair manager for 22 years, until
he retired in 1963.
After raising turkeys in the Ione
area, Rankin began a turkey-grow-
ing operation on Experiment Sta-
tion Road, south of Hermiston in
1931. He fi rst became interested
in the Hog and Dairy Show as an
exhibitor before becoming actively
involved in the managing end of
the fair.
The original fair buildings were
destroyed by fi re just a few days
before the fair was due to begin on
August 8, 1955. Rankin, president
of the board and fair manager at
the time, recalled how the grounds
were transformed within a week
from a smoldering pile of ashes to
a lively fair in full swing.
Sixty-fi ve small ammunition
Hermiston Herald, File
Hermiston Hazmat team members donned heavy vinyl suits in the sweltering
heat in July 1996 to contain a sulfuric acid spill at the Hermiston Generating
Project.
was started last Friday evening at
the Civic Recreation Center when
about one hundred persons were
present. George Harkenrider, pres-
ident of the Hermiston Chamber
of Commerce, took charge of the
meeting and stated that the organi-
zation was dissolved to make way
for the new cooperative plan, under
the name of Community Hospital
Association.
R.M. Mitchell, educational
director of the Pacifi c Supply in
Walla Walla, presented the plan
for the new association and told of
Once when brushing my teeth, as the toothbrush was
being raised to my mouth, I sneezed and toothpaste
went into my nostril, at which point I accidentally
snorted it up my nose further. Crazy how much that
burned.
What is one of your goals for the next 12
months?
To read one book per month of varying genres.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Being a fi rst generation college graduate and having
my wife and kids present at both my bachelor’s and
master’s graduation ceremonies.
Hermiston Herald, File
Harold Rankin was named as grand
marshal of the 1971 Umatilla County
Fair parade.
Hermiston Herald, File
Harold Rankin, 1971 Umatilla County Fair parade grand marshal, shows Spike
Piersol, parade chairman, a plaque presented to him in 1949 from the Norbest
Turkey Growers Association.
in addition to the membership fee.
Members will be solicited from
this vicinity and possibly from dis-
tant points as far as Walla Walla.
100 YEARS AGO
July 28, 1921
Fire destroyed the Hotel
Hoskins building in Echo and most
of the furnishings yesterday. The
fi re started at noon in the upper
story and had gained such head-
way before being discovered that
there was no chance to save any-
thing except a little of the furniture
on the ground fl oor.
J.T. Hoskins is owner of the
property and it is reported he car-
ried no insurance. The hotel fur-
niture, which belonged to Mr. and
Mrs. M.E. Shannon was insured.
The total loss is between $5,000
and $6,000.
Mrs. Shannon succeeded in sav-
ing her personal belongings, which
were in a room on the ground fl oor.
Tex Henderson was the heaviest
loser among the tenants, all of his
clothing and possessions except a
trunk being burned. Most of the
roomers had very little in their
rooms, and it being the dinner hour
they were on hand to save their
belongings.
Hotel Hoskins was built in 1906
and has been occupied as a hotel
ever since.
BY THE WAY
National Night Out treasure hunt underway in Hermiston
Hermiston’s National Night Out treasure hunt — Clue
No. 2:
GNR would say “we’ve got fun and games.”
And if we’re droppin’ names,
He’s living large as a city leader.
And to fi gure it out, you might be a reader.
I’ll say this without going on a ledge.
Coming or going, it’s under the edge.
Be sure and read the Hermiston Herald story about
area National Night Out activities on the community page.
• • •
The deadline to submit a request for the fall grant cycle
from Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation
is Saturday, July 31.
Qualifying nonprofi t organizations may receive funding
for programs or projects that contribute to the health needs
or contribute to the quality of life of local communities that
Good Shepherd serves, including western Umatilla County
and Morrow County. The application is available online
at www.gshealth.org/awards or by calling 541-667-3419.
• • •
People are encouraged to mark their calendars for the
2021 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit. The event
includes fi eld and industry tours, general session speakers,
and a series of discussion panels focused on regional eco-
nomic updates, federal and state legislative updates, pro-
gram and industry updates and more.
The summit kicks off Thursday, Aug. 19, and continues
through Friday, Aug. 20. Sessions are held at the Herm-
iston Agricultural Research & Extension Campus and
Armand Larive Middle School. Transportation will be
provided for the tours. Tickets, which range from $25-$40
for diff erent activities, are available at www.easternore-
gonsummit.com.
• • •
The American Red Cross has been distributing about
12% more blood products to hospitals across the U.S. com-
pared to this time last year. The Red Cross needs to col-
lect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day
to meet the current hospital demand and end the severe
blood shortage.
To thank donors who help ensure a strong blood sup-
ply in August, all who come to give Aug. 1-15, 2021, will
automatically be entered for a chance to win an exclusive,
VIP trip for two to the sold-out 2021 Bonnaroo Music &
Arts Festival.
Those who come to donate throughout August will
also receive a free four-month subscription off er to
Apple Music by email (new subscribers only).
Hermiston blood drives listed on the American Red
Cross website include:
• Friday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at First
Christian Church.
• Monday, Aug. 16, from 12:45-5:30 p.m. at Good
Shepherd Medical Center.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, July 29, is baked chicken, potatoes, veggies
and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, Aug. 3, is breakfast
bake, hash browns and dessert.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call
541-567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order. To pick
up a meal from the center at 255 N.E. Second St., call
the same number before 11 a.m. Meals are $4 and can
be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
The Boardman Senior Center now is providing
meal delivery. Meals are $4 paid upon delivery. Call
541-481-3257 to order.