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ONGOING SERIES
The Martin Family Mystery
Ken Martin’s Background
Harvey Schowe
The 6:30 Tuesday morning club, East Portland after 1910. After completing high school, Ken
Toastmasters Club # 710 had members with a attended Oregon State College with a major in
variety of occupations and personal histories. For electrical engineering in 1924. During college
example, J. D. Emery was the auditor for the Rose he was a member of the Western Club, Federal
City Transit company. Art R. Kirkham Jr. was an Engineers Club, and vice president of American
accountant for Bonneville Power Administration. Institute of Electrical Engineers Club. After grad-
At East Portland Toastmasters Club Art Kirkham uation, he married Barbara Aileen Cable during
Jr. was elected sergeant-at-arms in 1956 and the start of the Great Depression on November
vice president of education in 1957. Ernest W. 28, 1929 in Portland, Oregon. Ken worked as an
Schaufelberger joined the East Portland Club in electrician and range man for Portland General
1957 and was employed as a pharmacist. Ken- Electric Company. After working for PGE for over
neth Martin was vice president of Eccles Electric 25 years, he quit for a position as general super-
Company. He joined the East Portland Toastmas- intendent at the Home Electric Service company
ters Club and served as vice president. He gave a in the late 1940s. During the spring of 1958 the
speech about the trip to Cuba that his wife won Eccles Electric Company purchased Electric Home
as a prize in a cereal company contest. He wrote a Service. Ken then became vice president of Eccles
speech titled Box Topping to Cuba. located at 237 NE Broadway. He was known for
his planning skills and punctuality.
Kenneth Martin’s story is an interesting one. En-
sign Kenneth Martin was born on September 10, Ken belonged to the Trails Club. As an amateur
1904, Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Edward Riley photographer he developed his own film in a
Martin, a minister, and Margaret R. McGrath. He basement dark room. Every December asked the
had two sisters, Charlotte E. Martin, and Margaret church and merchants for donations for children.
Martin. The family moved to Portland, Oregon He dressed up as Santa Claus and handed out
20 ONE COMMUNITY
