The Class of 1997: ATHLETES

WALTER ERICKSON (1929-1933)

Walter Erickson was a four-time all-Northwest Conference halfback for coach Roy S. “Spec” Keene’s Bearcat football squad. He was chosen to the 1932 Associated Press Little All- American team after his senior season. Erickson also lettered four years in baseball at Willamette, played two years of basketball and ran track as a senior while on the baseball team. Erickson began his teaching and coaching career at Camas (Wash.) High School in 1933. He returned to Willamette in 1945 to become the school’s registrar, and was head coach of the football team in 1946. Erickson obtained a master’s degree in education from the University of Washington in 1949. He was a high school principal for 25 years in the Portland area until retiring in 1973. He was on the board of trustees at Willamette from 1955-61 and received an Alumni Citation from the University in 1979.

GEORGE ERICKSON (1931-1932, 1934-1937)

George Erickson lettered at Willamette 10 time- in football (3), basketball (3) and baseball (4). He began his teaching and coaching career at Grants Pass High School, then took a similar position at St. Helens High School. He moved to Roseburg High School in 1947, where he was a social science teacher, head baseball coach, and assistant football and basketball coach. Erickson became Roseburg’s principal after earning a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Southern California in 1949. In 1953, he became principal at Beaverton High School, a position he held for 14 years until moving across town to the new Sunset High School in 1967, where he remained until 1977. Erickson, a veteran of World War II, served as president of the Oregon Association of Secondary School Principals.

STUART HALL (1958-1962)

Stuart Hall starred in football all four years at Willamette- playing end and linebacker. Following his senior year, he was named first-team NAIA All-American, Associated Press Little All-Coast and Associated Press Little All-American second team. He was also a third-team NAIA All-American as a junior. Hall, a two-time Academic All-American, was a four-time Northwest Conference all-star and made the all-district team three years. He also played baseball. Hall graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 1965. He has been a member of Willamette’s board of trustees since 1988.

WALT LOONEY (1963-1967)

Walt Looney lettered four years each in football and baseball at Willamette. In football, he was a first –team NAIA All-American guard as a senior in 1966. He was a three-time first-team all- Northwest Conference choice a two-time first team all-district selection. In baseball he was a three-time all-conference pick. Looney began his teaching and coaching career at Wilson High School in Portland in 1968. As of his induction he was serving as math teacher, head football coach and assistant baseball coach at Wilson. Looney has won two Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) coach of the year awards-for baseball in 1975 and for football in 1994. His brother, Wayne, also played football at Willamette, and graduated in 1966.

HOLLY BROWN (1972-1976)

Holly Brown lettered 11 time in- track and field (4), field hockey (4), and basketball (3) at Willamette. In her primary sport, track and field, she won nine conference championships and led the Bearcats to three straight WCIC crowns (1974-1976). She won conference in the 100 and 100 high hurdles in 1973; the 440 rely and 100 high hurdles in 1974; the 400 hurdles and two-mile run in 1975; ad the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and mile rely in 1976. Brown qualified for the AIAW nation meet in the 400 hurdles in 1975. She also was an all-conference choice in field hockey one year.

The Class of 1997: TEAM

1941 "PEARL HARBOR" FOOTBALL TEAM

On the gridiron that year, the bearcats forged an impressive 8-2 record; including six shutouts. They easily won the Northwest Conference title; outscoring their five opponents 218-7 The team included future Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame selections Ted Ogdahl, Marvin Goodman, Dick Weisgerber (assistant coach) and Keene.

fter losing only to the University of Idaho on the mainland, the Bearcats thought they’d be in for a treat with a trip to Hawaii. The football teams from Willamette and San Jose were to play a series of games with the University of Hawaii called the Shrine Bowl.

In the first game of the Shrine Bowl on Dec. 6 Willamette lost a 20-6 contest against the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. The next morning, the Willamette contingent was preparing for a tour of the island when Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor. That led to the United States’ Involvement in World War II.

After the initial attack, Keene volunteered his players and male supporters for 10 days of guard duty at Punahou School while the women on the trip were sent to a Navy hospital as nurses’ aides. Most of the Willamette group left Hawaii two weeks after the initial bombing, arriving on the ocean liner President Coolidge in San Francisco bay on Christmas Day.

More Information on the Pearl harbor team can be found HERE.

The Class of 1997: MERITORIOUS SERVICE

WAYNE and SHIRLEY (McKAY) HADLEY (Wayne 1942, Shirley 1944)

Wayne and Shirley Hadley had their first date at a Willamette football game. For the last 58 years, they have known and given support to the Bearcats players, coaches and teams throughout the Northwest. The Hadleys were even in Honolulu at the “Pearl Harbor” football game in 1941. Besides volunteering to help work tournaments, track meets and with baseball stadium groundwork, Wayne used his co-ownership of Capital Chevrolet to provide team transportation for occasional road trips. Wayne and Shirley truly are a great example of alumni support for athletics at Willamette.

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