News

Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs will present its prestigious Urban Pioneer Award for 2003 to Portland developer John Gray, longtime Portland planner and historian Ernie Bonner, and Dean Nohad Toulan. The awards will be presented at a dinner June 3, 2003, at the Portland Hilton Hotel.

The Urban Pioneer Award was created to honor state and community leaders who exhibit many of the values taught to students, and held dear by its faculty and community partners. Former Oregon Governor and Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt and Oregonian Publisher Fred Stickel received the inaugural Urban Pioneer Awards in 2002.

Gray is best known for his high profile developments around the Pacific Northwest, including his signature work, John's Landing in SW Portland, Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge, and the Salishan Resort, south of Newport on the Oregon Coast. He is also a generous supporter of academic programs at Reed College and the University of Oregon, as well as numerous civic and philanthropic organizations.

Bonner was Portland's Planning Director under Mayor Goldschmidt in the 1970s, where he is credited for creating Portland's historic downtown revitalization plan. He is currently a member of the Portland Planning Commission. Bonner serves as an independent consultant on planning and management projects and is considered an eminent urban planning historian.

Toulan is the only dean in the 26-year history of the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State, and is recognized nationally and internationally for his work. He served as the first planning director for the Greater Cairo area in his native Egypt. Toulan helped author the Urban Growth Boundary for the Portland Metropolitan area, now copied by planners around the world. He also directed establishment of the master plan for the City of Mecca. Dean Toulan will retire from his position in June.

The College of Urban and Public Affairs trains and educates the next generation of leaders who will address government, health, and urban issues.

Sponsorships and tickets are available by calling Rod Johnson at the College of Urban and Public Affairs at 503-725-4044.