Rarely seen in modern politics, democrats and republicans in both the Oregon Senate and House unanimously approved Senate Bill 333, designating March 22 as Tom McCall Day.
The bill was signed into act by interim Governor Kate Brown in the Ceremonial Office at the Oregon State Capitol, on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.
McCall, former Oregon governor, served two terms running the state from 1967 to 1975. The thirtieth governor of the state and a republican, he is credited for many state initiatives including land use laws, the beach bill, and bottle deposit bill.
McCall died of cancer in January of 1983 while fighting for land-use planning laws up until the end. His son Tad McCall represented the McCall family at the signing of the bill.
“My dad taught me to fish; he taught me to love nature; and he taught me to have respect for words and thoughts and people...He was the nicest man you could meet and one of the most interesting."
Tom McCall Day is meant to commemorate the former governor and encourage school districts to educate children about Governor McCall’s legacy.
After graduating from the University of Oregon, McCall worked as a journalist and got his first big break working for the Oregonian during WWII. This led to broadcasting positions in radio and eventually TV, which helped to propel him into the Governor's office.
A strict environmentalist, in 1969 McCall helped form the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). McCall was never afraid to speak his mind and had the vision to help protect Oregon’s natural habitat for future generations.
“Oregon should not be a haven to the buffalo hunter mentality. The interests of Oregon for today and in the future must be protected from the grasping wastrels of the land.”
Tom McCall Day will only add to his legacy which already includes two elementary schools named after him in Forest Grove and Redmond. Named in his honor are also Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland and Tom McCall Nature Preserve in Wasco County, which includes Tom McCall Point Hike. And there's also a Bronze statue of McCall fishing, located in Salem Waterfront Park.
An advocate for the environment and promoter of tourism, he worked to preserve Oregon's natural environment for generations of not only Oregonians, but people everywhere.
“We want you to visit our state of excitement often. Come again and again. But, for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live.”
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