A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
BRIAN RUST
Hermiston
Could you tell me about your family?
My wife and I met in Heppner 10 years ago, we got
married and we have a 5-year-old daughter. We just
had a brand new baby boy a little more than month
ago.
How do you like being a dad and husband?
They’re both challenging, but so very reward-
ing. I’m helping with my daughter’s T-ball team. I
get to watch her grow up, go to school. She’s read-
ing better than I did in the third grade, and she’s in
kindergarten.
Were you an athlete in school?
Yes, I played football and basketball, and I ran
track. I enjoyed every minute of it, mostly as a social
thing. I didn’t really have any great moments. I was
the one who’d do the grunt work, and I preferred to
be behind the scenes.
Do you still play?
Not really. But I’m kind of interested in pickle-
ball. We’ve been doing it over here at (the Eastern
Oregon Trade and Event Center). I’ve played that
some. I think it’d be really cool to learn curling. I’ve
watched it in the Olympics, and that’s the one thing I
think I can do.
Do you have any other hobbies?
Well, there’s my coaching with middle school and
high school. I really enjoy that. I like being able
to teach kids what I know. Sports is something I
enjoy. I don’t really have time for anything else,
not with family life. My wife is the choir teacher at
Hermiston High School, so she has a very full job.
There’re always events with that, especially around
Christmas.
Does your wife sing at home?
She does. You know, I don’t sing with her in public.
I’m the behind-the-scenes guy, setting up what she
needs. We will sing together at home on occasion,
but I’m really outmatched on that. She has been on
marching bands and choirs. She went to China for
the Olympics.
Do you like music?
Yes, and I’m more of a country guy. Garth Brooks
is an all-time favorite, for sure. I haven’t seen him
in concert, but I’d like that. The best concert I’ve
been to was Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and
Uncle Kracker. The energy Kenny Chesney puts in is
impressive.
Since you work at EOTEC, could you tell us
about exciting new developments?
We have something going on basically every week-
end from now to Thanksgiving, pretty much. The
space is great, whether it’s for a meeting of 20 peo-
ple, a wedding, a rodeo for a few thousand. Parks
and Recreation has been in here for open gyms, and
it’s a great spot.
What do you like about working at EOTEC as
operations manager?
I like being one of those guys in town with a lot of
irons in the fi re. Professionally, I’ve been in the ag
industry for 15 years. While this job here includes
some of what I did then, now I do other things. I set
up events, and more. I’m really having a good time.
Hermiston Herald, File
Twenty-fi ve years ago, Geri Dickmeier, of Umatilla Electric Cooperative, was given the 1997 ‘Secretary of the Year’ title.
‘Secretary of the Year’ named 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
April 29, 1997
Geri Dickmeier was named the
1997 Secretary of the Year at the
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce’s
Annual Secretary’s Day Social.
Dickmeier’s boss, Steve Eldrige
of Umatilla Electric Coopera-
tive, nominated her for the award
and submitted a glowing letter of
praise for her contributions in the
workplace.
“To be nominated by a boss is a
great compliment,” Dickmeier said.
As part of her award, Dickmeier
received a limousine ride from Lux-
ury In Motion, a $100 gift certifi -
cate from Roemark’s, a gift from
N.W. Jewelers, dinner at Fontaines’,
lunch at Chappy’s, a night’s stay at
the Oxford Suites and a dozen red
roses from Cascade Natural Gas.
Other awards for the secretar-
ies included “Most Pictures at their
Desk, won by Lori Armstrong of
McDonald’s with 39 pictures; “Lon-
gest-Working Secretary,” won by
Willie Harmon and “Longest Time
Working at the Same Job,” won by
Barbara Bresnahan of Cascade Nat-
ural Gas.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, this smoking rubble was all that was left of a Pendleton Grain Growers
fertilizer steel storage shed that had caught on fi re.
ities Banquet. Following the ban-
quet, a formal dance took place in
the high school gym with a cere-
mony of the crowning of the prom
queen.
On May 3, the elementary dis-
trict track team held a meet. Spon-
sored by the Hermiston Rotary
Club, participants from Echo,
Stanfield, Hermiston, Ordinance,
Columbia, Umatilla, Irrigon and
Boardman engaged in this compe-
tition of strength and speed.
The baccalaureate ceremony
occupied the evening of May 18.
Then the next couple of days will
render students fairly busy, with
final examinations and tests tak-
ing place on May 19 and 20.
50 YEARS AGO
April 27, 1972
April 29, 1972, marked a spe-
cial day for the Swayze and
Bounds families, who founded the
first banks in the Hermiston area.
This banking legacy began in
1906 with F.B. Swayze, who trav-
eled from Oklahoma in search
of economic opportunity. Upon
arriving, Swayze realized the need
for a bank and opened the First
Bank of Hermiston later that year.
In 1908, it was renamed the First
National Bank and moved to the
corner of First and Main, where
it remained until 1950. After
F.B. Swayze died, his son, Frank
Swayze Jr., sold the bank to the
U.S. National Bank of Oregon in
1953.
Around the same time, the
Inland Empire Bank in Umatilla
was thriving under the manage-
ment of Roger Bounds. In 1959,
the Bounds opened the Hermis-
ton branch of the Inland Empire
Bank and his wife, Doris Bounds,
became the manager and chairman
of the board of directors after her
husband’s death in 1961.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1972, Doris Bounds celebrates
the opening of another one of her
family’s banking branches in this
area.
In 1972, she celebrated the
grand opening of the third branch
of the Inland Empire Bank, in
Boardman, as a 66-year continua-
tion of banking tradition.
75 YEARS AGO
May 1, 1947
School activities and events
back in 1947 were busy.
A May Day program, presented
by the elementary school on
May 2, included the annual Activ-
90 YEARS AGO
April 28, 1932
William Holford made his Lin-
coln High School, of Portland,
proud when he was declared the
state winner of a national essay
contest.
Conducted by the National Stu-
dent Forum, this competition of
historic analysis and writing skills
asked students to write an essay
answering the question, “What is
the Bearing of the Paris Peace Pact
on the Question of Disarmament?”
By winning the state prize, Hol-
ford was then eligible to compete
in the state contest. The reward for
winning this contest was a trip to
Europe. Ray Steubing of Jeff erson
High School won this trip two years
prior.
BY THE WAY
Pick up your Hermiston Police ribbons and magnets
To honor local law enforcement offi cers, the Hermiston
Police Department is making ribbons and magnets avail-
able. These items, which are in the shape of the department’s
patch, are free and distributed through area churches and
local businesses.
Banner Bank, Bi-Mart, Hermiston Drug and Gifts,
Les Schwab Tires and Papa Murphy’s Pizza are among
the participating businesses.
Law Enforcement Appreciation Week is May 15-21.
• • •
The city of Boardman is reminding pet owners of the
need to keep their dogs and cats current on their rabies vac-
cinations. This year the city will host a low-cost rabies vac-
cination clinic
This low-cost rabies vaccination event is Saturday, June
11, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Boardman City Park. The
cost of the rabies vaccination is $25 per pet.
Along with the vaccinations, the city will off er free dog
licensing.
For more information, call Boardman Animal Control
Offi cer Jose Fernandez at 541-481-9252.
• • •
For an opportunity to sell items that have been gathering
dust in your garage, consider joining the Community Wide
Yard Sale in Irrigon.
People are invited to submit their name/address to be
added to the map. In addition, vendor space is available at
the Irrigon Pavilion on Northeast Main Avenue — tables
are $15.
The event is Saturday, May 7, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. To reserve
a space or to provide yard sale information, call the Irrigon
Chamber of Commerce at 541-626-2045 or email irrigon-
chamberofcommerce@outlook.com.
• • •
If you have yet to check out StoryWalk at Hash Park,
440 Pendleton Ave, Umatilla, what are you waiting for?
Every month, the Umatilla Public Library places
pages from a children’s book in frames along the path in
the park.
This month’s book is titled “Under My Tree” by Muriel
Tallandier. It tells the story of a girl who leaves her city
home to visit her grandmother. On her way, she fi nds a very
special tree of her own in the forest.
According to the library, this book is “a wonderful intro-
duction to trees for young children that gently cultivates an
appreciation for nature.”
Check out this book while there is still time. Then, return
to the park for the next book. Planned to be ready on Monday,
May 2, the next one will be a Star Wars book.
• • •
Are there any teens out there who are still wondering what
they want to do after high school? If so, the Hermiston Pub-
lic Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., might have a helpful event.
The library will host Teen Career Day on Saturday,
April 30, at 3 p.m.
A few people will be at the library to discuss careers.
Attendees will be welcome to ask them questions about what
they do and how they got started.
• • •
Visit the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave.,
for Story Time. The library hosts this weekly in-person event
Tuesday, May 3, 10:30 a.m.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, April 28, is hamburgers, potato salad, French
fries and fruit. The menu for Tuesday, May 3, is sausage
gravy and brats, mashed potatoes, vegetables and dessert.
In-house meals will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m.
People planning to dine in are asked to call by 11 a.m.
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 before 11 a.m. Meals are $5
and can be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and noon.
• • •
The Boardman Senior Center is open for dine-in
lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon at 100 Tatone St.
Meals are $4 for seniors and $5 for others. Take-out lunches
are available by calling 541-481-3257.