RONALD OLMSTEAD

Ronald Olmstead (SHS Class of 1956) - A Young Man Taken Too Soon. Basketball court, track,

classroom, student council, ski slopes, and more – there were very few areas where Ron

(“Ronnie” to his friends and family) did not excel. Ronnie was a distance runner at SHS,

finishing 1

in the mile and 2

in the long jump at the district meet in 1955, and 1st in the

mile and 1st in the 880, establishing a new district record, in 1956. He finished fifth and

fourth in the mile at the state meet at a time when there were only two classes. He was the

top scorer for the track team in 1956 and was 2

team all-district in basketball. Ronnie never

let athletics or academics preclude him from a life filled with action – thespian, student

counsel, school officer, musician, and writer. Ultimately, this lead to multiple scholarships to

attend Linfield College, including a scholarship from the newly-established Linfield Physics

Research Institute. Unfortunately, a few days after graduating, Ronnie drowned during a

fishing accident in the swift waters of his beloved Metolius River. In his honor, Harold and

Dorothy Barclay established in 1957 the Ronald Olmstead Memorial Scholarship for

outstanding senior students, which continued until 1968 when SHS temporarily ceased

operations.

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OUTLAW HALL OF FAME • 2017 INDUCTEE