Page 25 - September 2017 Voices

HIDDEN TREASURE

EARLY OREGON TOASTMASTERS - PART 5

by Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian

Herschel P. Nunn, a charter member of he became a Christian
Portland Toastmasters Club #31, was born Scientist and worked for
December 13, 1889 in Minneapolis, Minnesota the Christine Science Monitor as a newspaper
to Alexander H. Nunn and Minnie Pillsbury. representative.
Her brother was director and treasurer of He expanded his social activities with
Munsingwear Corporation, Minneapolis. The membership in the Advertising Club of Portland.
family moved to Seattle, Washington where He organized a glee club in 1929 called the
Alexander Nunn operated a real estate and Gleemen of Advertising Club of Portland. This
insurance business. Herschel attended grade group provided music entertainment for ad
school and Seattle High School club conventions. The glee club
where he joined a debate club later sang at the Ford Theater
and an athletic association. at the Worlds’ Fair. They were
After high school Herschel broadcast on radio nationally and
attended the University of internationally. He also was active
Washington. He served on the in the Community Chest. He
year book first semester special provided support for the election
assignments organizations of third District Congressman
but may not have graduated, Franklin F. Kored in the November
according to University of 1928 election. Herschel became
Washington year books. He a charter member of Portland
worked as a salesman for Penn Toastmasters club #31 December
R. Watson Company from 1934. He was the club’s first
1912 to 1914. In 1915, Herschel treasurer. The September 1936
moved to Portland, Oregon to Toastmasters magazine featured
work as a salesman for Foster an article about Herschel Nunn and
and Kleiser Company. George John E. Davis of Portland winning
W. Foster was the president first place in the three-minute
and W. F. Foster, company speech contests at the Pacific Coast
secretary. Offices were located Advertising club convention in Portland. After
in Portland and Seattle. This company specialized 1936, Herschel Nunn’s participation as Portland
in general and outdoor advertising, such as; Toastmasters Club member remains unknown.
bills, posters, bulletins and outdoors signs. After In 1940 he applied for membership in the Sons
the US entered World War I, Herschel Nunn of the Revolution. He continued his career with
served in the Army 116th Engineers Battalion in the Christen Science church. He was elected as
France from 1917 to 1919. He left Brest, France a board member to the Board of Lecturers of
in an Army transport on April 2, 1919 and was Mother Church one of 27 in the U.S. He traveled
discharged. He returned to Portland where he extensively lecturing in the US, Canada and
found work as an advertising man for Arcady and abroad during the late 1940s and early 1950s’.
Mail Advertising. He married Elizabeth Boone Herschel Nunn died April 4, 1957 in Clackamas
October 21, 1921 in Portland. That same year, County, Oregon.

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