ERNEST HAYCOX '23 - When Ernest Haycox applied his University of Oregon journalism education to Western literature, he reinvented the genre. In place of flowery bursts of sentiment and sensationalism, Haycox offered clear, lean and active prose. As Haycox developed his craft, his passion for accurately portraying the settling of the western territories blossomed. His characters were easily recognizable as the pioneer men and women who settled the West. In his later years, Haycox wrote nearly exclusively of his beloved Oregon. His last novel, The Earthbreakers, published two years after his death in 1950, tells the story of the first year of the settlers in Oregon.

Considered the leading western writer of his time, Haycox’ stories were enormously popular. He wrote 22 novels and more than 250 short stories, many serialized in the leading magazines of the time. Ernest Hemingway reportedly purchased Colliers magazine only to read the latest Haycox serial. His Colliers magazine story, “Stagecoach to Lordsburg,” was the basis of “Stagecoach,” the classic movie that redefined Hollywood westerns.

Haycox served as president of the UO Alumni Association in 1946. In 1960, the Haycox family donated to the UO Library his extensive 2,000 volume collection of rare books and periodicals of the early West and later, the entire collection of Ernest Haycox’ personal papers.

Ernest Haycox died in 1950.

GEORGE H. WEBER ’31 - George Weber never wasted time or opportunity. While attending the University of Oregon, the accomplished pianist and orchestra leader handled the bookings for nine collegiate bands throughout the Northwest. As an advertising major, he won a scholarship to work during the summer at a Portland agency whose personnel included Arlyn Cole and Mac Wilkins. Not long after he graduated, Weber became the first employee of the new firm Mac Wilkins and Cole. During his more than 40 years with the agency, Weber helped build Cole and Weber Advertising into one of the largest agencies in the West, representing Boeing, The Oregonian, Safeco and Silicon Graphics, among many others.

His formula was deceptively simple: Surround yourself with efficient, devoted and talented people, keeping the company vigorous by bringing in young people.

By nurturing young talent in summer internships and first-year positions, Weber helped stimulate the development of Northwest public relations and advertising firms that were strong enough to challenge the world’s best.

Weber became vice president and general manager of the newly opened Seattle office of Cole and Weber Advertising in 1937 and was elected president of the agency in 1963. He retired in 1972 as chairman of the board. Weber served as president of the Advertising Association of the West and the western chairman of the American Association of the Advertising Agencies.

Weber’s contributions to his community were equally outstanding. At various times, he served as director of the Seattle Symphony, Friends of the Public Library, Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, World Affairs Council and United Way.

George Weber died in 1996.

ROBERT FRAZIER ’48 - Robert Frazier was never bashful about his love affair with the University of Oregon. Charles Duncan, in the introducing a collection of Frazier’s columns, noted, “Bob’s affection for his alma mater was deep and abiding, almost possessive.”

When he entered the University in 1940, Frazier was determined to prove himself worthy of his “Great Lady.” In both his collegiate and professional careers, he did that and more.

After graduating, Frazier began working as a reporter for The Register-Guard having earlier worked for brief periods for the Aberdeen Daily World, the Bend Bulletin and the now defunct Eugene Daily News. At The Register-Guard, Frazier’s primary assignment ultimately became producing each day’s editorials as well as a signed column in the Sunday paper.

From his position on The Register-Guard’s editorial page, Frazier helped shape public debate in Eugene and state-wide. In a period of Oregon newspaper history noteworthy for passion and commitment to the State and for the high quality of its editorial voices, he stands out as one of the best.

Frazier spent a year at Harvard as a Neiman Fellow and served for 12 years on the Neiman Reports editorial board. In addition, Frazier served on the board of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, editing its quarterly publication, The Masthead. He was a Pulitzer Prize judge in 1976 and 1977 and was elected to the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 1975.

Robert Frazier died in 1997.

JOANN BYRD ’64 - While few would deny that Joann Byrd has helped set the standard for excellence in journalism, some might say she had a head start. Byrd began her career at the seasoned age of thirteen writing a weekly column for The East Oregonian. Her early efforts offered only a hint of the success that was to follow.

Byrd's first job after graduating from the University of Oregon was with The Spokane Daily Chronicle. In 1978, she joined The Herald in Everett, Wash. rising quickly to become executive editor in 1992—at the time, the highest-ranking woman in Northwest journalism.

While working for The Herald, Byrd earned a master's degree in philosophy with an emphasis in media ethics from the University of Washington. Her commitment to media ethics did not go unnoticed. She soon began teaching journalism ethics at the University of Washington and in 1995, left The Herald and the Northwest to serve as ombudsman for The Washington Post.

Next, Byrd joined the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida, again to teach journalism ethics, this time to mid-career professionals. Since January 1997, Byrd has been editor of the editorial page of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Nonetheless, her leadership has extended beyond individual newspapers. She is a member of the Pulitzer Board. She was a founding member of the board of directors for New Directions for News and was also fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University.

Byrd represents the American Society of Newspaper Editors on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications and in 2001, she will become chair of ASNE’s Ethics Committee.

GLENN STARLIN - Most people fortunate enough to have worked with Glenn Starlin remember him for his remarkable leadership skills and his genteel character.

He began his teaching career at the University of Iowa in 1939 and worked as an instructor in speech and drama at the University of Akron in Ohio from 1940-43.

In 1947, following World War II, Starlin joined the UO faculty. He was instrumental in developing the radio-television production curriculum in the Telecommunications and Film program, introducing a graduate program and establishing the campus radio station, KWAX.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Starlin helped to establish the state’s first educational television broadcast facility, KOAC-TV in Corvallis. He was centrally involved in the development of Oregon Public Broadcasting and in 1954-56, he helped launch the National Educational Television and Radio Center—now known as PBS.

Starlin’s influence soon became global. He consulted on the development of public broadcasting around the world, and served for many years on the boards of the Western Radio and Television Association and the Association for Professional Broadcasting Education.

At UO, Starlin served as vice provost for academic affairs and as acting dean of Liberal Arts (now Arts and Sciences). He retired in 1977.

Today the Glenn Starlin Endowed Graduate Fellowship rotates annually between the Department of Theatre Arts and the SOJC and is presented to the student “with a demonstrated commitment to scholarship and career potential.” In 1990, the Museum of Natural History Courtyard was dedicated in Starlin’s name.

Glenn Starlin died in 1999.