Baseball: Armed and Dangerous Spring 2012 Devoted Alumni Pass Away Linfield Lost Two Beloved August Went on to Serve Similar Sports Alumni in January
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WildcatTHE NEWSLETTER FOR ALL LINFIELD ATHLETICS SOFTBALL Encore Performance WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Larry Brown ’96 Ryan Larson ’12 headlines a deep baseball pitching staff Baseball: Armed and Dangerous Spring 2012 Devoted alumni pass away Linfield lost two beloved August went on to serve similar sports alumni in January. Both roles at Salem’s McKay High shared lengthy service to the School for seven seasons. As a college’s athletic programs. high school coach, he posted a Longtime volunteer career win-loss record of 183- Often I have wondered, as the Dr. Norman Goss died Jan. 18 at 75 while leading his teams to 16 Kingston Trio melodically pined in 1961, age 88, and former football player straight playoff appearances. “Where have all the young men gone?” and assistant coach Ron August In 1986, August led Dallas The passing of Dr. Norman Goss, passed away Jan. 28 at age 70. to the Oregon Class 3A state who selflessly pledged his support to A 2000 inductee into the Dr. Norman Goss ’46, ’54 championship and was selected as our athletic programs for a half century, Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame, Class 3A Coach of the Year. underscores the critical need for a Dr. Goss served as timekeeper at August spent 12 seasons as an new, younger generation of Linfield football and basketball games for assistant coach at Linfield, joining volunteers to step to the forefront. a half century. the staff in 1996 under then-head People such as Ezra Koch, Craig “Linfield has lost one of its coach Ed Langsdorf. He continued Singletary, Roald Berg, Steve Davis, and most faithful alumni,” said college to serve the college during the Tom McFadden have reliably donated sports information director tenures of Jay Locey and current their time for many years in the roles Kelly Bird. “Norm’s love of the coach Joseph Smith before of scoreboard operator, public address college and its athletic programs retiring following the 2007 season. announcer, concession stand manager, really is symbolic of an entire At Linfield, he carved an generation of people who have important niche as Linfield’s statistician, and so forth. Through their Ron August ’64 unwavering service to the athletic devoted themselves to serving special teams coordinator, a department, we have grown to depend and supporting Linfield for so many position seldom served in a full- on their attendance at every home game. years. We will miss him greatly.” time capacity at a NCAA Division III school. As There are many vital roles which Last year, when Bird asked Goss how old a result of his day-to-day guidance, Linfield’s our alumni and community supporters he was, Goss replied matter-of-factly, “I’ve special teams statistically ranked among the might serve. For those of you in the local celebrated my 29th birthday three times.” Northwest Conference and nation’s finest. area, we would love to have you ask Goss is survived by his wife, Phyllis Though retired, August continued to attend “What can I do to help?” (Cochrane) Martin ’46 of McMinnville, and as many Linfield football games as his health While most would say it’s fun to more than a dozen family members who permitted. be involved in college athletics and attended Linfield, including brothers, sisters, As a Linfield student, August participated have a hand in the smooth operation of cousins, children and grandchildren. in football under Hall of Fame coach Paul home events, the real challenge comes August devoted nearly his entire adult life Durham, though injuries prevented him from in finding people willing to devote to coaching football. He worked 25 years as a earning a varsity letter. themselves to be available for every teacher and coach in the Dallas School District, He is survived by his wife, Betty; three home date on the schedule, regardless his last 19 of which were spent leading the daughters, Denise, Dana and Dyan; and of when those events might occur. Dragons’ football program. numerous grandchildren. At Dr. Goss’ memorial, it was said that Norman was so committed to his service to Linfield athletics that he 2011 softball team honored at OSA planned his family vacation time around Linfield’s record-setting 2011 national champion softball team was among seven the college’s sports schedule so as to recipients of the George Pasero Team of the Year award, presented Feb. 5 at the annual avoid all possible conflicts. Oregon Sports Awards gala on the Nike World Headquarters campus. Truth is, Linfield needs a few good The 2011 Wildcats won a NCAA-record 51 games and hit a record-setting 103 home 20-somethings, 30-somethings and runs on their way to the Division III national title. 40-somethings to step forward now and A total of 40 school records fell as the Wildcats slugged their way to the Northwest say, “Yes, I love Linfield sports and I am Conference crown and the program’s second national title in five seasons. willing to serve.” Graduated seniors Kayla Hubrich and Claire Velaski accepted the Pasero award For example, if you love volleyball, onstage on behalf of the team. The pair thanked their teammates, fans and supporters, we could use your help keeping score. and members of the coaching staff. If your love is football, there are needs Coach Jackson Vaughan ’97 was among the finalists for the Slats Gill Sportsperson within the pressbox, concession stand, of the Year award, honoring the state’s top coach or athletics administrator. Linfield also ticket booth and on the chain crew. had four nominees in the running for the Ad Rutschman (’54) Small College Athlete of The primary requisites are a love the Year award, though none brought home top honors. Football’s Drew Fisher ’12 and for Linfield sports and a willingness to baseball’s Tim Wilson ’14 were finalists for the men’s award. Softball players Emilee Lepp pledge yourself to work every home and Staci Doucette, both ’12 were in the running for the women’s Rutschman award. event within a specific sports season. Where Are They Now? Larry Brown Baseball letterman Larry Brown, Those experiences a 1996 Linfield graduate, is a allowed me to put career military officer with the leadership theory into rank of Major in the U.S. Army. practice on a daily He makes his home in Bryan, basis. This exposure Texas, 100 miles northwest of not only broadened my It’s been nearly 15 years since Houston. understanding of human Linfield became a full-fledged member nature and action, but it of NCAA Division III after years of NAIA What’s your family life like? also inspired my current affiliation. What is unique about being I am married to the commitment to advanced a member of Division III and what do former Ms. Shannon study of leadership, student-athletes gain by attending a Rae of Bonners Ferry, leadership theories, and school such as Linfield? Recently, an Idaho. Shannon served in critical self-analyses through initiative was undertaken by the NCAA the Army as an Aviation the Master of Science to clarify the intentions and develop a Officer, flying both the UH- in Organizational Leadership at Norwich brand image for Division III. As such, 60 Blackhawk and UH-1 Iroquois helicopters. University. During my two deployments to three words came about to succinctly We do not have children yet, but we are using Iraq, I was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” describe the Division III experience: our time in Texas as an opportunity to begin device (Valor), two Bronze Stars, two Purple Discover, Develop and Dedicate. our family. We reside on a small ranch where Hearts, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and There are numerous opportunities Shannon trains horses. the Order of St Maurice-Centurion. for our student-athletes to “Discover” What’s your current position? Did you aspire to a career as an Army officer? throughout their four years at Linfield. Division III rules enable student-athletes I am employed as the Assistant Professor While attending Linfield, I did not have an to enjoy a well-rounded collegiate of Military Science (Army ROTC) at Texas interest in serving in the military. I was holding experience. Many Linfield student- A&M University. I have full responsibility for out hope that I would eventually be able to athletes are able to study abroad, the training and instruction of junior cadets hit for average and run faster, and in doing so, volunteer and be involved in numerous destined for eventual commissions as Second gain the attention of a professional baseball on-campus activities. Lieutenants in the U.S. Army. scout. Upon realizing that dream was not Division III student-athletes are Where has your career taken you? going to happen, I started to look at options allowed to “Develop” their athletic skills After graduating from Linfield, I enlisted in after college. Having been born to career- during their respective seasons. Coaches the U.S. Army in 1997 and served from 1998 Army parents, the idea to join the military expect a lot from their athletes while was not foreign to me, and after careful until 2002 as a Platoon and Company Senior in season. Outside of their competitive consideration, became reality. Medic, during which time I achieved the rank season, student-athletes can use their of Sergeant. I was commissioned through What are some of your fondest memories of time to engage in other interests and the Officer Candidate School as an Infantry playing baseball at Linfield? spend time with family and friends. Lieutenant in 2002. My first assignment was Aside from the camaraderie and competition, Though Division III schools offer that of rifle platoon leader at Fort Hood, I will always remember that my grandparents no athletic scholarships, many of Texas.