Donors and Outreach

In Memorian

Loss of a Legend and a Friend

Theodore C."Ted" Scheffer, long-time Professor in the Department of Wood Science & Engineering, has passed away. He was 99. Scheffer was born in Manhattan, Kansas, but grew up in Puyallup, Washington. He married Fluvia Gray in 1927, whom he knew from high school. Scheffer went on to college at the University of Washington College of Forestry, where he received a masters degree, followed by a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1934. His doctoral research was in plant physiology and pathology, and his post-doctoral work at Johns Hopkins University focused on control of wood-damaging organisms, and was supported by a National Research Council Fellowship. He joined the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wisconsin, in 1935, where he worked until his retirement in 1969.

Scheffer then moved back the Pacific Northwest, joining the staff at the College of Forestry as research associate and later courtesy professor. His many years of service were formally commemorated when the Wood Products Pathology Laboratory was dedicated in his name. In addition to his expertise and knowledge, Ted's congenial presence was a welcome addition to College gatherings, whether in the coffee room or at his much-anticipated birthday parties.

He was a member of the Corvallis Rotary Club, Society of American Foresters, Forest Products Society and the Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his sons, Ted G. of Monroe, Wisconsin, and Alan P. of Sioux City, Iowa, as well as six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial donations can be made to Save the Children or the Nature Conservancy.

OSU's Beloved Pioneer Forester Passes

Pauline Barto Sandoz, the first female forestry graduate of Oregon State, has passed away. Sandoz upset the social order when she enrolled as a forestry student in 1939, paving the way for other women who have followed in her footsteps throughout the years. She graduated in 1945 with a bachelor's degree in Forest Management. However, besides one year spent as a forest-fire lookout, it wasn't until her husband Fred died in 1985 that Sandoz had a chance to actively use her forestry degree. It was then that she took over the management of the family's 120 acres of timberland.

Sandoz was born in 1921, the only girl in a family of six children. She was raised on a 160-acre homestead near Junction City, where her father started Oregon's first rhododendron nursery.

Bart A. Thielges

June 16, 1938 — June 29, 2003

Bart A. Thielges died suddenly in San Luis Obispo, CA. Our heartfelt condolences to Bart's wife, Judy, their three sons and families. A memorial service is planned at the College of Forestry, August 18, 3:00 p.m. in the Hatfield Courtyard, Richardson Hall.

A memorial will be included in the Fall issue of the Focus on Forestry. Remembrances for inclusion may be sent to Caryn Davis at caryn.davis@orst.edu

Forest Friend

Vida Bullis has lived in the Willamette Valley during most of her 100 years of life, and has always enjoyed strong connections to OSU through family and friends. She recently created the Vida Bullis Charitable Remainder Unitrust, currently valued at $1.47 million, which provides income to a family member. After that family member's lifetime, 80 percent of proceeds from the trust will benefit the College of Forestry, with the balance going to the Colleges of Pharmacy and Oceanographic and Atmospheric Sciences.

The trust was created using proceeds from the sale of 175 acres of timberland that was Mrs. Bullis's home for over 60 years. She and her husband purchased the property on Beaver Creek in 1936 and Mrs. Bullis lived there until 1997, when she moved to Seattle to be near family.

She loves all aspects of the forest, but especially the native plants whose survival depends on a mature forest. She enjoyed sharing her passion for wildflowers and environmentally sound forestry practices with visitors to her property, many of whom came to visit her substantial dahlia garden.

Although visitors initially came to see the garden, they kept coming back just to see her, says her granddaughter, Joyce Hershberger. They would wander the woods or simply sit on the creek bank to enjoy cooling off under the trees.

"She always welcomed visitors, loved where she was and what she was doing, and was always eager to share her considerable knowledge with others," says Hershberger. "She is one of those people who is so sincere and focused that she is special to many people."

Proceeds from the trust are to be used by the College of Forestry for research centering on the maintenance of ecosystems, habitat protection, and forest biodiversity. The funds will directly benefit students through grants and scholarships, the creation of teaching or research positions, and supporting graduate research projects or outreach programs in the schools.

New & Renewed Gifts

At a sprightly age of 102, Priscilla E. Duncan is still going to the ballet and still giving generously to a College of Forestry scholarship fund that honors the memory of her late husband, Gordon Duncan ('23). "She has always been very supportive and wants to continue to help the College," says her daughter, Priscilla Stephenson.

The family and friends of Ted W. Maul ('47) have established an endowed fund to benefit forestry students as a loving tribute to Maul's memory. Maul was the assistant state forester when he retired and specialized in fire protection. He died on Oct. 6, 2002.

"My father was an advocate for education and donated regularly to the College of Forestry while he was alive," says Maul's son, John Maul (Assoc. Prof., Art). The Ted W. Maul Professional Development Fund will provide funds for travel expenses related to students attending professional meetings. It is still open for contributions from donors wishing to honor Ted Maul.

Alumni Dan Graham (Forest Engineering, '51) and Marilyn Graham (Education, '52) have created a charitable gift annuity, an arrangement that currently generates income for them. After their lifetimes, the proceeds will support scholarships in Forest Engineering.

Through their foundation, Wes and Nancy Lematta of have established a new $150,000 graduate student fellowship. Their gift will support students who are working on advanced degrees in Forest Engineering.

Through a gift of $60,000 from the estate of Francis Robert McCabe ('34), the Francis R. McCabe Memorial Scholarship has been established to provide undergraduate scholarships. McCabe earned a degree in Forest Management from OSU.

With gifts totalling $20,000, Edmund (Ned) Hayes, Jr. has funded a new graduate fellowship in Forest Science. The Fellowship will support master's or PhD candidates who are working on practical problems associated with forest management.

The N.B. Giustina Foundation has provided a gift of $25,000 to support forestry research. The College is using the gift to support research projects proposed through the Innovative Grants program initiated this year. The program awards grants to College faculty and staff through a competitive process designed to bring value to the College.

Donors John Gardner (Forest Products, '43) and Brenda Gardner (Home Economics '42) have contributed $10,027 to the College of Forestry's general scholarship fund. This is the second generous gift the Gardners have made to support students.

With a gift of $10,000 from their family foundation, Wendell and Barbara Walker continue to support the work of Forestry Extension, particularly the Master Woodland Manager program.

Helen S. Carlson, widow of Gordon G. Carlson, has added $20,000 to the scholarship endowment fund that honors her husband's memory.

Graduation Day

College of
Forestry family
fêtes new
graduates and
their families
with a
reception in
the Peavy
courtyard, June
15, 2003.

New Course for Oregon's Log Haulers

In collaboration with the Oregon Forest Products Transportation Association, the popular LEAP (Logger Education to Advance Professionalism) program sponsored by OSU is now offering a course called "Forestry for Log Haulers: A Workshop in Support of Professionalism."

The course is offered for Oregon log haulers interested in improving their knowledge of the forestry sector, its regulations, public issues, and technologies. Some topics covered will include information about accreditation, certification, and licensing of people, products, and processes; public perceptions of forestry; Oregon's Forest Practices Act; new technologies; and trucking costs. Various professional accreditation organizations may offer credit for participation.

OSU has been teaching forestry and business practices to Oregon's loggers since the 1970s. By the early 1990s, the educational effort had congealed into the organization called LEAP, and expanded to include silviculture and ecology. Currently, LEAP offers courses around the state to help loggers stay abreast of new industry regulations, technologies, and business practices. Other courses cover logging costs and bidding; selection, training and motivation of the forestry workforce; and visual management for logging contractors.

John Garland, timber harvesting extension specialist and instructor for LEAP courses, says LEAP is intended to reaffirm and solidify the value professional loggers bring to the management of our forests. "Loggers are the valuable link in executing applied ecology in our forests," he says. The Oregon Forest Resources Institute has been a helpful partner in the LEAP program, providing funds to develop the courses over the years.

Garland also says that while it was difficult at first to get loggers to see the value in the training LEAP offers, that changed once they attended. "Initially loggers felt they had to be there to get certifications," he says. "But once they did it they saw value and have created a demand for more." The training extends outside the classroom as loggers pass along new concepts to others on their crews.

OSU Helps Tree Farmers Plan Across Generations

Planting a tree is a long-term investment. So when it comes time to pass on the family tree farm, long-term planning is necessary. A new program from Oregon State University Extension Service is helping forest owners plan transitions from one generation to the next.

"When you are managing a crop that spans generations, you need to talk about long-term goals and values with your family," says Mike Bondi, OSU professor and Extension forester in Clackamas County. Bondi and Pat Frishkoff, former director of OSU's Austin Family Business Program, have designed a program to help families discuss sensitive issues and plan for the future of the family tree farm. The program explores the human side of transitioning forestland from one generation to the next.

"Forest owners may be worried how to keep the farm in the family," says Bondi. "Or they may find it hard to choose which family member should be given the responsibility for managing the family farm. Where most families struggle is being able to openly communicate about family values, priorities, wishes, and commitments."

Recently, 60 family members joined Bondi and Frishkoff in the OSU Extension program to talk openly about what works in family businesses and what doesn't. Several families were there with grandparents, parents and children. "Pat focused attention on the tough issues, helping families define what their farm means to them, what their vision for the future is and how to set goals to reach their wishes," Bondi says. At the end of the one-day workshop, each family left with a transition planning notebook and the beginning of a plan for transitioning ownership and management of the family farm.

For more information about the program, "The Future of Your Tree Farm: The Human Side of Transitioning to the Next Generation," contact the Clackamas County office of the OSU Extension Service at 503-655-8631.

Forestry Communications Group, Peavy Hall 256
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 | (541) 737-4271
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