Richard and Maurine Neuberger honored in renaming PSU’s Market Center

Portland State President Rahmat Shoureshi on Thursday unveiled a plaque to honor Richard and Maurine Neuberger Center by renaming the Market Center Building in their memory.

“Given that the leadership of Portland State is housed here, and that Richard and Maurine Neuberger were exemplars of the kind of brilliant leadership that has built Oregon to the model of livability and progress that it is today, we feel it is more appropriate to bring their names here to honor their legacy and inspire us to do our best every day,” Shoreshi said.

Richard Neuberger was an influential journalist, state legislator and U.S. senator, and his wife Maurine was elected to the U.S. Senate after her husband’s death. Kate Marquez, niece of the Neubergers, attended the ceremony representing the family. Long time Oregon journalist and PSU alumnus Steve Forrester, who soon will publish a book on the Neubergers, also spoke at the ceremony and detailed the vision and impact they had on the state.

After World War II, the Neubergers were strong advocates for what was then the  Vanport Extension Center, which was established in 1946. It later became Portland State College and then gained university status in 1969.   

The former Neuberger Hall is under renovation and will reopen with a new name next fall.