Page 32 - October 2017 Voices

HIDDEN TREASURE

EARLY OREGON TOASTMASTERS - PART 6

by Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian

Donald Card Sloan, of Commerce, “Pay Your Taxes” campaign as a
a charter member of speaker at a Rotary Club meeting June 28, 1935.
Portland Toastmasters Club # 31, was born Beginning November 1935 Donald Sloan, along
September 16, 1905 in Claresholm, Alberta, with other Portland Toastmasters members
Canada to William R. Sloan and Pearl P. Card. Franklin McCaslin, Charles Stidd, Lynn Sabin
His family moved to Cardston, Alberta, Canada and John Davis participated as speakers in a Red
and then to Logan, Utah in 1909 where his Cross Drive. March 29, 1936, Donald Sloan gave
father started a hardware business. a speech at a Portland Toastmasters
He married Clarice Watson Club ladies night meeting. Other
Glade on April 7, 1927 in Salt speakers at this meeting were Worth
Lake City, Utah. They moved to Caldweld, John W. Davis, Manley
Portland, Oregon in 1927 where Robinson and Lynn P. Sabin with
he worked for the Lumberman’s Frank McCaslin as Toastmaster.
Trust Company. It later merged Sloan’s participation in Toastmasters
with American National Bank. He remains unknown after 1936. He
worked for Murphy-Favre and continued improving his speaking
United Oregon Corporation as an skills with speeches to various civic
associate salesman in 1928. While groups. May 1936, Donald sought
at Murphy-Favre, Donald Sloan nomination as State Senator for the
met Jefferson L. Wilcox. They 13th District. He received 13,298
decided to organize a partnership votes. It was insufficient for a nomination. In
in an investment company specializing in 1939, he served on the Board of Directors for
bond distribution and trust shares in 1930. the Multnomah Chapter of the Red Cross. In
They opened for business January 1931. Sloan
became involved in civic activities. As a member addition to a career as an investment banker,
of the Junior Chamber of Commerce he met Donald Sloan was an amateur actor participating
Frank McCaslin, a future charter member of in plays such as “Dear Family” June 1942 and
Portland Toastmasters Club. They participated “The Warriors March”, March 1944 at the Civic
in a cleanup Portland Campaign for the Rose Theater. He wrote a play titled “Pacific Paradise”
Festival. He was involved in a campaign to stop about the strange customs natives on the Island
the recall of Mayor George Baker. May 17, 1932, of Manu’s near Soma. He described an incident
he delivered a speech at the Junior Chamber of where he was sitting in a hut when the natives
Commerce supporting Mayor Baker. Donald burst in throwing knives at him. He managed
Sloan was elected president of the Portland to avoid them. Apparently knife throwing was
Branch of Latter Day Saints November 13, 1933. custom on this island. After World War II, he was
During the fall of 1934, Donald Sloan joined a Rose Festival Rosarian. He traveled to Rio De
Portland Toastmasters Club #31. He participated Janeiro, Brazil, South America, Europe, and the
in a Toastmaster Speakers Bureau, the first in U.S. From the 1940s until his death he delivered
Oregon, where he delivered the speech Lets Quit many speeches on securities investment to
Killing about traffic safety on February 28, 1935. various civic groups. During the evening of
April 1935 Toastmaster members participated September 10, 1969, while preparing a talk for
in a Speakers Bureau that promoted the Rose the Certified Public Accountants, Donald Sloan
Festival. He participated in a Junior Chamber died from a heart attack.

32 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 OCTOBER, 2017