Page 20 - Voices March 2018
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BURIED TREASURE
EARLY OREGON
TOASTMASTERS - PART 12
Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian
Manley Frank Robison was born on December Stidd, and Del
28, 1899 in North Junction, Lane County, Snider. He may
Oregon. His parents divorced when he was a have remained as
small child. He attended school in Junction, a member until
1946 when he resigned his Portland Chamber
Oregon then enlisted as a private in the US
of Commerce job for a position with the State
Army, during World War I, on February 25, 1918
of Oregon Highway Department. Portland
at the age of 19. After basic training he served in
Toastmasters were meeting at the Portland
the balloon detachment No. 2 Aviation Section
Chamber of Commerce building in 1940 until
of the Army Signal Corps. Robison departed
after 1948, Glen Meek, past District 7 Historian,
for France from Newport News, Virginia on
attended Portland Toastmasters meetings at the
the troop ship Siboney on April 22, 1918. May
Chamber of Commerce building in 1940 before
7, 1919 he was discharged from the Army. He
moving to Pendleton, Oregon.
returned to Junction, Oregon and married Helen
Manley was promoted to manager of the
Josephine Sanders. In 1925 worked as a clerk
Commerce Tourist-Convention Department
for C. E. Carroll Company in Eugene, Oregon.
in 1940. Beginning May 1941, he traveled for
He was elected financial officer for the Junction
three months to the east coast and mid-west
City American Legion Post. In 1929 he moved promoting Oregon as a tourist destination. In
to Portland, Oregon for a job as a salesman. His 1946, the State of Oregon highway engineer R.
next position was with the Portland Chamber H. Baldock appointed Manley as manager of
of Commerce as a Hospitality and Convention the Travel Information Department of the State
Department manager. Highway Department. He and his family moved
In the fall of 1934, Manley joined Portland to Salem where he gave talks on the Oregon
Toastmasters Club #31. From November 10- tourist industry. His department provided
26, 1936, he participated with other Portland Oregon tourist information. October 31, 1951
Toastmasters in the Red Cross Speakers’ Bureau. he resigned his position for a state position as
Toastmasters participating in the bureau were: director of Aid and Welfare where he worked
Frank McCaslin, chairman, Worth W. Caldwell, until his retirement.
Jack Carney, John Carney, John W. Davis, Manley Robison died at his home on
Arnold Kuhnhausen, Herschel Nunn, Donald L. September 3, 1980. He was buried in Willamette
Sloan, Lynn P. Sabin, Manley Robison, Charles National Cemetery.
20 ONE COMMUNITY
