Rainier Oregon Historical Museum
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Rainier, Oregon's "Days In The Park"
July 9, 10, 11 and 12, 2015
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2015 Days In The Park button
2015 Rainier Days in the Park Grand Marshals James Muck and Bob Hansen
Rainier Days in the Park Grand Marshals go way back
The (Clatskanie) Chief July 10, 2015
The 2015 Grand Marshal goes to two long time friends James Muck and Bob Hansen. James and Bob first meet when Bob was on the school board and James presented the board with the idea of having a computer program at the high school.
Bob was very supportive and they became friends. The architect said that computers where just a flash in the pan and would become a passing fad, thank goodness Bob, James and the board had a better vision.
February 14 of the following year, a 9i830 Hewlett Packard with a huge memory of 2k, a printer, a plotter and a card reader were purchased for 20,000 dollars. Thus the computer was named "Valentine," and so went the birth of computer classes at RHS.
Thanks to the vision of Bob, James and the rest of the Rainier School Board started their computer program. Bob and James have remained friends since (more than 35 years). Their daughters Debra and Susan are best friends, so the families interact a lot.
James and Bob share a lot of the same interests and enjoy each other's company. They both have grandkids in sports, especially softball, and support them with their presence.
Grand Marshal James Muck
 James Muck |
James Muck was born in Granville, N.D. on November 1, 1932, and moved to Hettinger, N.D. when he was 6 years old. He graduated from high school in 1951 and spent four years in the Navy. James attended Dickinson State College and met Arlyce Roemmich. They were married in 1957.
In 1961 James graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in mathematics. James taught school in Montana for three years. However, he discovered driving a tanker truck was a more profitable way of life, but Arlyce didn't like the idea of being alone with the children while James was driving across country and never home.
Without his knowledge she updated his resume and sent it to several schools on the west coast. In September of 1961, James came home on a Friday to find everything packed in boxes and ready for a move. Arlyce told him that she accepted a position for him in Rainier, Ore., and they needed to be there by Monday morning.
They drove straight through the weekend, arriving Sunday afternoon. James says the move was the best decision they ever made. They love this part of Oregon and have never stopped loving it.
James received his 5th year degree from Portland State, a Masters degree in Education, emphasis in Mathematics from Southeastern State College in Durant, Okla., and a Masters equivalent from the University of Oregon in Computer Science.
Teaching mathematics and computer science to all levels of age groups helps keep him young. James says when he retired he missed the students tremendously.
In addition to teaching 9 months a year, he drove a tanker truck, spread road oil, and ran summer camps in Computers for Rainier Students grades 3-12, many of whom have made computer science their life's occupation. Arlyce and James have been married for 58 years and have four children.
Their children John, James, Susan and Charles all graduated from Rainier High School. John works and lives in Colorado. James is a federal fish biologist and lives in Roseburg. Susan is a substitute teacher for the Rainier School District. Charles is a corporate accountant and lives in McMinnville.
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Grand Marshal Bob Hansen
 Bob Hansen and wife Kay |
Bob Hansen has lived in Rainier for 78 years. His mother graduated from Rainier in 1935 and Bob graduated in 1956. The Hansen family is working on their 5th generation in the Rainier School District today. Bob also served on the school board for nine years, and during that time the new school was built.
In addition he was also voted outstanding young man of Oregon.
Bob worked at Rainier Manufacturing for two years and then got hired on as a white card with the longshoreman in Longview, Wash. Bob was a longshoreman for 39 years and really enjoyed driving a crane.
Bob and his wife Kay met and fell in love in High School and have been married for 58 years on July 14. They have four daughters: Debra (Leonard) Kelley, Gayle (Gene) Brewer, Robyn (Dennis) Yeoman and Sonja (Steve) Lorenzo. They have 11 grandkids: Derek, Jamie (James), Stephanie (Johnny), Tiffany, Katie Jo, Bradley, Dwayne, Alisha, Angie (Kyle), Amber and Tyler. They have 17 great grandkids: Matthew, Sarah, Ercilia, Savannah, Timmy, Tyson, Taleah, Makenzie, Makayla, D.J., Kyel, Joshua, Kielynn, Reni, Leia, Jaiden and Arianna and 1 great great grandkid: Isabelle.
Bob enjoys living in a small town and being part of a small community. Everyone knows everyone. Bob remembers when the Rainier Days celebration first started it was called "Rainier Daze" and it belonged to the JC's.
They had a chicken barbeque booth and a car ride and swings for the young kids to ride. The Ski Bees had a water ski show and had big and little princess. The set up for the stage was in front of old post office (Lower Columbia Insurance) for the coronation.
Bob says his biggest enjoyment in life was and is watching all his kids' ball games. Bob is a member of the Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church here in Rainier and has been for most his life. He served as secretary of the church for a while and participates in all church functions, helping support their small congregation.
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