Saying Goodbye

RICHARD "DICK" SPEER

JUNE 18, 1928 – JUNE 17, 2022

Dick was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1928. He served two years in the Navy after WWII as an airplane radio operator, then used his GI Bill to allow him to afford college at Oregon State University, where he received a degree in civil engineering. He was the Assistant City Traffic Engineer for the City of Portland for over 30 years. At the end of his career, Dick worked for TriMet and served in the field as one of the engineers working on the Max light rail system as it was being installed.

Dick met Wanda when she was 19. They married in 1953 and had three children: Jan, Jim, and Joan. Dick had an immense love for the outdoors and staying active, whether hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, or building snow caves. He joined the Mazamas in 1956 and was proud to have received the 16 Peak Award in 1981. He climbed many mountains and led many climbs, and taught cross-country skiing for the Mazamas. He was also one of the first parties to cross-country ski around Crater Lake. His family shared time together at Mt. Hood and in Central Oregon, enjoying the outdoors. They spent a great deal of family time at their mountain cabin on Forest Service land in Rhododendron, which Dick proudly built completely with hand tools when he was in his 20s.

Dick and Wanda traveled many places, always enjoyed being active, and had a great life. They were blessed with six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Wanda preceded Dick in death in December, and after a brief illness, Dick peacefully joined her in June. They were married for 68 years.

RICHARD F. PORTER

APRIL 13, 1929–AUGUST 2, 2022

Richard Franklin Porter, 93, also known as "Dick" or "R.F.," passed away peacefully in his home in Portland. After graduating from Harvard and doing his military service in Germany, Dick earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Stanford Law School. He then returned to Portland and practiced law with the firm of Gilley, Busey & Porter for over 20 years.

Dick joined the Mazamas in 1963 and by 1968 had garnered the Guardian Peaks Award. He was a man of many talents that included skiing, watercolor painting, opera, and traveling.

He is survived by his wife, Quinland, who he met while riding out the 1962 Columbus Day storm. She continues to be a Mazama member.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Dick's name to the Mazamas or to William Temple House.

HAROLD “BILL” KEIL

APRIL 11, 1926–JUNE 16, 2022

Bill Keil was an Oregonian through and through. Born at Emanuel Hospital in 1926, he grew up during the Great Depression in Portland’s Multnomah Village neighborhood and graduated from Lincoln High School, the oldest high school in Portland. After military time in the South Pacific, he returned to this area and went off to Oregon State College (now OSU). There he majored in the fields that would define his life—forest management and journalism.

Between the military and college, Bill climbed Mt. Hood for the first time in 1946. Once in college, he became involved in Oregon State College’s climbing program, which included a now infamous attempt on Three Fingered Jack with 50 other climbers. There were no injuries, but a number of co-eds missed their dormitory curfews. Bill joined the Mazamas in 1947 and became involved with some of his fellow Mazamas, who also were members of the Wy’East Climbers group.

During college, Bill worked in and around Government Camp in various capacities, including at Timberline Lodge, then just over a decade old. After graduation in June of 1950, he typed up a job proposal to the management of Timberline suggesting that he be their publicist. He then worked there writing news releases, fielded inquiries, and sent out promotion letters to businesses.

Soon after, Bill became editor of Ski West, did a two-month stint as a fireman in northwest Portland, and eventually became a park forester managing Forest Park, which itself had only been established in 1948. From 1952 to 1956, he was instrumental in developing a fire protection plan for the park and helped create all the fire lanes that run throughout the park. He had a hand in building the first couple of miles of the Wildwood Trail, as well. Bill also coordinated numerous tree plantings in areas devastated by the 1951 Bonny Slope burn. One of the original members of the Forest Park Committee of Fifty, he remained an integral member of the Board of Directors for decades. In 1973, he published a trail guide to Forest Park. Today there is a trail in the park named after him to honor his efforts.

Over the course of his life, Bill wove his two interests into very visible effects. He wrote for the Timberman, was editor of World Wood, was in public relations for the Bureau of Land Management, wrote and edited for Plywood and Panel, then Wood Based Panels in his retirement. All the while, Bill wrote freelance articles and TV and radio segments focused on skiing and hiking in The Oregonian, The Oregon Journal, and all the major local TV stations.

Bill lived a long life filled with the activities he loved, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

In his honor, please consider donating to the Cloud Cap Restoration Project, Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, or a mountain search and rescue organization.