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Mark D Sanchez's avatar

My wife and I met with Gert every month for breakfast in downtown Portland. A great source.. a better friend. Funny, too.

Tim Boyle's not alone: I miss Gert, too, and your fine remembrance neatly reframed a tough woman much smarter than the obstacles she overcame.

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John Canzano's avatar

That's a really nice post. Thanks Mark.

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Maverick's avatar

Wow... I would have paid money and bought breakfast for one meal with this legend.

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T.J. Beck's avatar

She is an iconic fixture forever in Oregon history. Tough, smart, driven, and brave. She came from an era of no excuses and no quarter given to the enemy. The greatest generation. The world today is a lesser place without her and that entire generation. Excellent piece John!

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Ray Naff's avatar

Great article on Gert Boyle! An excellent reminder of what class really is all about.

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jon joseph's avatar

Class and courage.

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Suzi Connor's avatar

I loved her book! She was a remarkable woman and I wish I could have known her. She was a firecracker!

Thanks for devoting a column to her , John.

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John Canzano's avatar

thanks Suzi.

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Grant's dad's avatar

Thanks for that. I used to love to read stories about her, and loved just as much the clever ad campaign commercials they did.

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John Canzano's avatar

Really smart stuff. Ahead of its time.

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Maverick's avatar

Hey Grants dad - we agree on something! 😉

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Pat Hoglund's avatar

Loved this. Fun read and a reminder that good stories come in all shapes and sizes.

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John Canzano's avatar

So true. Thank you Pat.

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Matt L.'s avatar

Thanks for this John. I was just thinking good thoughts of Gert as I laced up my Sorel Boots (still in great shape since I got em’ in 1995!) to shovel snow last week. I also can’t help but think of Gert when I enjoy really good apple pie, at her wake in Memorial Coliseum you might recall we all received small slices of pie as we left, from her favorite recipe. Columbia Sportswear is a client of mine, and can confirm Gert still is very much a part of all they are and all they do. She was and is an incredibly awesome force.

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John Canzano's avatar

She is legend. Thanks for reading and sharing that.

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Keith Dickey's avatar

My Dad owned a clothing store on the Oregon Coast and I remember him laughing about having conversations with her on the phone back in the 70’s. A great story!

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Pedro in Texas's avatar

I love this! And I love the pic of her at her desk. It reminds me of office jobs I had in Washington Co.

Central Texas looks alot different!

But why aren't we talking about the demise of our favorite conference? I hear Colorado is trying like heck to get back into the Big!@

Is that why GK is talking to CSU?

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John Canzano's avatar

Who is telling you that Colorado is trying like heck to get into the Big 12? Drill down. Nobody at Colorado thinking that. I think the Big 12 would love you to believe that.

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Pedro in Texas's avatar

My comment was tongue in cheek. I know that the deal will be done soon. But there was another goofy report on heartland sports stating that the Colorado regents are meeting to discuss legal options.

I know it's garbage.

What i really want to know is who is number 4?

AND, I don't mean Brett Favre or Bobby Orr!

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John Canzano's avatar

The Colorado regents have met 10 times since November... there's a Pac-12 Board meeting today... figure the meeting is an update on the Pac-12 front. I just don't see Colorado leaving.

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Dr. James P. McHugh's avatar

Thank gooodness you remember Bobby Orr. I saw him personally when I was a kid. I tried to mimic his style , but retired at 18. drjimxlaw64@gmail.com

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Pedro in Texas's avatar

If only we could get John to feed the rumor-mill and tell us the name of the fourth school.

Or maybe even CONFRIM the third.

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jon joseph's avatar

Good. I hope they lead the charge to bring suit against Carol Folt, USC, FOX, B1G commissioner, and big liar Kevin Warren and the B1G, a/k/a FOX, Inc.

Folt led the charge to kill taking in B12 orphans when she was playing footsie with the B1G The B12 should be gone as a P5 conference and we should have a Pac-20 with uneven revenue distributions, that the conference had before Larry changed to equal shares, and possibly the opportunity to keep the LA schools in the Pac.

The Pac-20 would be looking at a lot of CBB tournament shares if it didn't again shoot itself in the foot; this time by omission and academic snobbery.

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Pedro in Texas's avatar

I'm not sure what that suit would be. The fact remains that we are a free market society. And the timing did line up to be disadvantageous. Maybe the folks and entities you've listed were not always acting in good faith, but they didn't do anything to break contract much less something illegal.

The previous conference leadership has the most blame. Then Maybe the inability to discuss unequal distribution.

Why not let USC and UCLA get 60+ a year while OSU & WSU get 38? Everyone else falls in between.

38 is well above what anyone else outside of SEC and BIG are getting!!

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jon joseph's avatar

Pedro, great post but please see my above response.

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jon joseph's avatar

We no longer live in a world of caveat emptor and I believe SC and UCLA and FOX and the BIG along with its then commissioner committed fraud. Many CA statutes prohibit undisclosed dealings when you are in a partnership and 'lying' by omission or commission.

I also believe that CA state and federal racketeering charges (RICO) are available under both CA state and federal law.

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Sharon's avatar

I remember Columbia giving out thousands of winter jackets every year at Christmas time when I volunteered to help in the children's drive. Every child got a jacket and one each for their siblings at home. It was heartwarming.

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Rob's avatar

Another great story John!

Thank you.

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John Canzano's avatar

thanks Rob.

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Howie Stalwick's avatar

Yet another absolute journalistic gem by John. Thank you!

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John Canzano's avatar

thanks howie. appreciate that you're here for it.

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jon joseph's avatar

Great take! But the sentences for the jerks who pulled a gun on an elderly lady, assaulted her, and tied her up? No wonder crime is growing more and more rampant.

Some or all of these s-bags are probably back of the street. Should have at least gotten 30 years each.

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Douglas Bashor's avatar

Great story about a wonderful lady.I grew up with Buck Knight.I was happy to see his involvement in her success.Boy you do great article s

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Jim Stewart's avatar

Tim is a good guy.

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Don Hughes's avatar

Yes indeed

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Chris Spence's avatar

Thanks for the article John. Always love reading these…very personable. She was one tough cookie for sure.

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