_______________________________________
Richard Laughlin Ph.D.
May 30, 1934 — August 27, 2012
Richard (Dick) Laughlin, Ph.D., 78, descendent of Oregon Trail pioneers and dedicated Oregon educator, died on Monday after a long illness. He was raised in Long Creek and graduated from Estacada High School in 1952.
His three loves were sports, education and family and he gave them his all. When he was 18 he was scouted as a catcher for the Red Sox, but following a hunting accident that ended his baseball career, he pursued his Bachelor's Degree at Portland State College where he was actively involved in student government.
At PSC, he met Janet Louise Rothenberg and they were married in 1955. After earning his degree and the birth of his daughter Debra, he began his teaching career in Santa Paula, Calif., in 1958. In 1959 he returned to his roots in Pendleton and developed a new wrestling program at Pendleton High School. The following year his son Jim was born. In 1961, he became head of the history department at Milwaukie High School. That year he worked with a team to develop Advanced Placement Programs for Oregon. In 1963, he received his Master's Degree in History and Curriculum from Oregon State College.
Richard moved with wife, Janet, and their children, Debra and Jim, to Bogota, Colombia, to help develop a social studies curriculum for an international school. This was a highlight of all of their lives! Upon their return two years later, Richard began teaching at Franklin High School and then moved to Wyoming to pursue his Doctoral Degree at the University of Wyoming. He then returned to teach at Franklin. In 1976, he became the Principal of Siletz High School; 1980 the Superintendent of Crook County Schools; 1984 the Superintendent at Stanfield; 1987 the Superintendent of Clatsop County Educational Services District, and 1991 the four county ESD Superintendent, a new role he helped to create. Richard retired from education in 1994, but continued as a consultant to the Oregon Legislature for several more years.
An avid traveler, he continued to explore the world and was particularly pleased to be able to visit all of the continents. Not one to be idle, he threw his energies into supporting his grandchildren's sporting events; always the loudest voice in the cheering section. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and recently helped his church (Lake Bible) to establish a thrift store with proceeds benefiting a school in Uganda through Good Samaritan Ministeries.
Richard is preceded in death by wives, Janet (Rothenberg) and Joan (Rossos); brother, Joseph; and sister, Lois Ross. He is survived by his children, Debra (Jamey Mathews) and Jim (Sarah Laughlin), and his wife, Muriel (Reilley) Laughlin; granddaughters, Tara Mathews and Kara Laughlin; and the families of Joan and Muriel: 13 granddaughters; three grandsons; and 15 great-grandchildren, who he was so blessed to welcome into his life.
A celebration of Dick's life will be held at Lake Bible Church, Lake Oswego at 11 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2012. All are welcome, especially those students whose lives he touched during his years of service to education in Oregon. Donations can be made in his memory to M.I.T.C.H. Charter School, 19550 SW 90 Ct., Tualatin, OR 97062; Uganda Schools, c/o Good Samaritan Ministries, 7929 SW Cirrus Dr., #23, Beaverton, OR 97008; and Pendleton Linebackers' Club, 249 S. Main St., Pendleton, OR 97801.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Sunday, September 2, 2012]
_______________________________________
Richard Laughlin Ph.D.
May 30, 1934 — August 27, 2012
Richard (Dick) Laughlin, Ph.D., 78, descendent of Oregon Trail pioneers and dedicated Oregon educator, died on Monday after a long illness. He was raised in Long Creek and graduated from Estacada High School in 1952.
His three loves were sports, education and family and he gave them his all. When he was 18 he was scouted as a catcher for the Red Sox, but following a hunting accident that ended his baseball career, he pursued his Bachelor's Degree at Portland State College where he was actively involved in student government.
At PSC, he met Janet Louise Rothenberg and they were married in 1955. After earning his degree and the birth of his daughter Debra, he began his teaching career in Santa Paula, Calif., in 1958. In 1959 he returned to his roots in Pendleton and developed a new wrestling program at Pendleton High School. The following year his son Jim was born. In 1961, he became head of the history department at Milwaukie High School. That year he worked with a team to develop Advanced Placement Programs for Oregon. In 1963, he received his Master's Degree in History and Curriculum from Oregon State College.
Richard moved with wife, Janet, and their children, Debra and Jim, to Bogota, Colombia, to help develop a social studies curriculum for an international school. This was a highlight of all of their lives! Upon their return two years later, Richard began teaching at Franklin High School and then moved to Wyoming to pursue his Doctoral Degree at the University of Wyoming. He then returned to teach at Franklin. In 1976, he became the Principal of Siletz High School; 1980 the Superintendent of Crook County Schools; 1984 the Superintendent at Stanfield; 1987 the Superintendent of Clatsop County Educational Services District, and 1991 the four county ESD Superintendent, a new role he helped to create. Richard retired from education in 1994, but continued as a consultant to the Oregon Legislature for several more years.
An avid traveler, he continued to explore the world and was particularly pleased to be able to visit all of the continents. Not one to be idle, he threw his energies into supporting his grandchildren's sporting events; always the loudest voice in the cheering section. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and recently helped his church (Lake Bible) to establish a thrift store with proceeds benefiting a school in Uganda through Good Samaritan Ministeries.
Richard is preceded in death by wives, Janet (Rothenberg) and Joan (Rossos); brother, Joseph; and sister, Lois Ross. He is survived by his children, Debra (Jamey Mathews) and Jim (Sarah Laughlin), and his wife, Muriel (Reilley) Laughlin; granddaughters, Tara Mathews and Kara Laughlin; and the families of Joan and Muriel: 13 granddaughters; three grandsons; and 15 great-grandchildren, who he was so blessed to welcome into his life.
A celebration of Dick's life will be held at Lake Bible Church, Lake Oswego at 11 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2012. All are welcome, especially those students whose lives he touched during his years of service to education in Oregon. Donations can be made in his memory to M.I.T.C.H. Charter School, 19550 SW 90 Ct., Tualatin, OR 97062; Uganda Schools, c/o Good Samaritan Ministries, 7929 SW Cirrus Dr., #23, Beaverton, OR 97008; and Pendleton Linebackers' Club, 249 S. Main St., Pendleton, OR 97801.
[The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Sunday, September 2, 2012]
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