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2015 Grand Marshal

The 2015 Grand Marsh 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 14th of the next year a 9i830 Hewlett Packard with a huge memory of 2k, a printer, a plotter and a card reader was purchased for 20,000 dollars.  Thus the computer was named “Valentine” and the birth of computer classes at RHS.  Thanks to the vision of Bob, James and the rest of the School Board Rainier started their computer program.  Bob and James have remained friends since (over 35 years).  Their daughters Debra and Susan are best friends so the families interact together 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.

Co-Grand Marshal

James Muck

James Muck was born in Granville ND on November 1st 1932, moved to Hettinger, ND when he was 6 years old.  Graduated from high school in 1951 and spent 4 years in the Navy.  James entered Dickinson State college and met Arlyce Roemmich and they were married in 1957.

In 1961 James graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Mathematics.  James taught school in Montana for 3 years discovering driving 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 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 Oregon and they needed to be there by Monday morning.  They drove straight through 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 OK and a Masters equivalent from the University of Oregon in Computer Science.  Teaching Matematics and Computer Science to all levels of age groups help keep him young.  James says when he retired he missed the students tremendously.

In addition to teaching 9 months a year he drove tanker truck, spread road oil, ran summer camps in Computers for Rainier Students grade 3 through 12, many of which have made computer science their life’s occupation.

Arlyce and James have been married for 58 years and have 4 children.  John, James, Susan and Charles all of whom 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 ia a corporate accountant and lives in McMinville.

Co-Grand Marshal

Bob Hansen

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 9 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 2 years and then got hired on as a white card with the Longshoreman in Longview.  Bob was a longshoreman for 39 years and really enjoyed driving Crane.

Bob and his wife Kay met and fell in love in High School and have been married for 58 years on July 14th. 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 my kids' ball games.

Bob is a member of the Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church here in Rainier and have been for most his life.  He served as secretary of the church for a while and I participate in all church functions and help support their small congregation.
 

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