News
Prominent Portlanders Selected to Receive PSU's Simon Benson Award This Fall
Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel and Patricia L. Wessinger have been selected to receive the 2004 Simon Benson Award at PSU’s gala dinner event this fall.
In its sixth year, the Simon Benson Awards dinner is Portland's premiere philanthropic event, celebrating Oregon residents who are advocates for philanthropy. Named after one of Oregon's first philanthropists, the award recognizes individuals in the community who are visionaries and have generously given time and/or money to support the lives of generations of Oregonians.
This year's gala event will be held at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) on October 6 and includes a reception, dinner and featured guest Walter Cronkite. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets and tables are now available to the public; call Leslie Grasa (503-725-8212) for more information. One thousand people are expected to attend.
Background on Award Recipients and Guest Speaker
Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel
Tom and Caroline Stoel have been an unstoppable team since they opened their law books at Duke University more than 60 years ago. In 1937 Stoel joined a Portland law firm that became Stoel Rives LLC, which today has 300 attorneys in five states. His leadership has benefited Metropolitan Family Service, Portland Art Museum, American Red Cross and Willamette University. Caroline Stoel is closely involved with Planned Parenthood, the Nature Conservancy, Oregon Council for the Humanities, World Affairs Council, Oregon Historical Society and the PSU Foundation.
Patricia L. Wessinger
Pat Wessinger has a long history of standing front and center for the causes she believes in. An avid bird watcher and nature enthusiast, she has provided crucial leadership for many environmental and historical groups including Malheur Wildlife Refuge and the Oregon Historical Society. In the late-1970s she was instrumental in saving Berry Botanic Garden. In addition, Pat was a founding member of the Oregon Zoo. Today she serves as a member of the executive committee of The Nature Conservancy—Oregon, and is a member of the board of directors for Polar Bears International.
Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite's accomplishments, both on the air and off, have won him the trust of his colleagues and the American public alike. As a United Press correspondent during World War II, Mr. Cronkite covered North Africa, the North Atlantic, D-Day, and the air war in the skies over Germany. In 1950 Mr. Cronkite joined CBS News, and anchored CBS political convention and election coverage from 1952 to 1980. In 1962 he became anchor of the “CBS Evening News.” Since leaving the Evening News in 1981, Mr. Cronkite has hosted several acclaimed CBS documentary programs.
A high-resolution photograph can be downloaded at www.marketing.pdx.edu/newsreleases/Walter_Cronkite.jpg
Simon Benson Award speakers and recipients:
1999 Speaker: Colin Powell, Recipients: Paul Bragdon, Jean Vollum
2000 Speaker: Mario Cuomo, Recipients: Mary and Maurie Clark, Don Frisbee
2001 Speaker: Bob Dole, Recipients: Peter and Julie Stott,Duncan and Cindy Campbell
2002 Speaker: Rudolph Giuliani, Recipients: Jeannine B. Cowles, Ernest C. Swigert
2003 Speaker: Madeleine Albright, Recipients: Elizabeth H. Johnson, James F. Miller
2004 Speaker: Walter Cronkite, Recipients: Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel, Patricia L. Wessinger
In its sixth year, the Simon Benson Awards dinner is Portland's premiere philanthropic event, celebrating Oregon residents who are advocates for philanthropy. Named after one of Oregon's first philanthropists, the award recognizes individuals in the community who are visionaries and have generously given time and/or money to support the lives of generations of Oregonians.
This year's gala event will be held at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) on October 6 and includes a reception, dinner and featured guest Walter Cronkite. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets and tables are now available to the public; call Leslie Grasa (503-725-8212) for more information. One thousand people are expected to attend.
Background on Award Recipients and Guest Speaker
Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel
Tom and Caroline Stoel have been an unstoppable team since they opened their law books at Duke University more than 60 years ago. In 1937 Stoel joined a Portland law firm that became Stoel Rives LLC, which today has 300 attorneys in five states. His leadership has benefited Metropolitan Family Service, Portland Art Museum, American Red Cross and Willamette University. Caroline Stoel is closely involved with Planned Parenthood, the Nature Conservancy, Oregon Council for the Humanities, World Affairs Council, Oregon Historical Society and the PSU Foundation.
Patricia L. Wessinger
Pat Wessinger has a long history of standing front and center for the causes she believes in. An avid bird watcher and nature enthusiast, she has provided crucial leadership for many environmental and historical groups including Malheur Wildlife Refuge and the Oregon Historical Society. In the late-1970s she was instrumental in saving Berry Botanic Garden. In addition, Pat was a founding member of the Oregon Zoo. Today she serves as a member of the executive committee of The Nature Conservancy—Oregon, and is a member of the board of directors for Polar Bears International.
Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite's accomplishments, both on the air and off, have won him the trust of his colleagues and the American public alike. As a United Press correspondent during World War II, Mr. Cronkite covered North Africa, the North Atlantic, D-Day, and the air war in the skies over Germany. In 1950 Mr. Cronkite joined CBS News, and anchored CBS political convention and election coverage from 1952 to 1980. In 1962 he became anchor of the “CBS Evening News.” Since leaving the Evening News in 1981, Mr. Cronkite has hosted several acclaimed CBS documentary programs.
A high-resolution photograph can be downloaded at www.marketing.pdx.edu/newsreleases/Walter_Cronkite.jpg
Simon Benson Award speakers and recipients:
1999 Speaker: Colin Powell, Recipients: Paul Bragdon, Jean Vollum
2000 Speaker: Mario Cuomo, Recipients: Mary and Maurie Clark, Don Frisbee
2001 Speaker: Bob Dole, Recipients: Peter and Julie Stott,Duncan and Cindy Campbell
2002 Speaker: Rudolph Giuliani, Recipients: Jeannine B. Cowles, Ernest C. Swigert
2003 Speaker: Madeleine Albright, Recipients: Elizabeth H. Johnson, James F. Miller
2004 Speaker: Walter Cronkite, Recipients: Thomas B. and Caroline P. Stoel, Patricia L. Wessinger
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Sources:
Leslie Grasa (503-725-8212)
PSU University Relations
Release Number: 04-054
