June 9, 1998 Contact Gaye Vandermyn (541) 346-3133 In recognition of their contributions EUGENE--The University of Oregon will honor five persons, including two couples, with Presidential Medals during spring commencement ceremonies this year. Honorees include Oregon industrialist and well-known philanthropist Earle M. Chiles, timber industry leaders Aaron and Marie Jones and business and civic leaders Randy and Susie Papé. The Presidential Medal honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to higher education through their long-standing and extraordinary support. Each medal is hand-forged in solid silver and is a replica of the myrtle wood medallion worn by the university president at ceremonial occasions such as commencement. "We honor these Oregon leaders for their visionary investments in the University of Oregon that have helped transform this enterprise into one of the top six `rising stars' of America's best research and teaching universities," says UO President Dave Frohnmayer. "Earle Chiles has long championed the cause of higher education in Oregon," said Frohnmayer. "He has given of his time personally, serving on the governing boards for half a dozen colleges and schools. Through his foundation, he has provided essential funds, and also wisely has chosen to support projects that foster insight in how higher education best works and can make a defining difference for generations of students." Chiles is owner of Earle Chiles and Affiliated Companies and president of the Chiles Foundation, which supports education and research projects throughout Oregon. At the University of Oregon, Chiles has lent his time and expertise to the university's International Business Advisory Board. The Chiles Foundation funded entirely the Chiles Business Center, the Earle A. Chiles Business Services Room, the Eva Chiles Classroom in the Lundquist College of Business and the Frank E. Nash Endowment Professorship Fund at the UO law school. Hundreds of UO students also have been helped personally by Earle Chiles and his Chiles Foundation through the Chiles Foundation MBA Scholarship Fund, Presidential Scholarships, the Merit Scholars Program and the International Business Scholarship program. In 1986, Chiles received the UO's Pioneer Award. "One of things I have noticed about Randy and Susie Papé over the last decade," said Frohnmayer, "is how often I saw their passion for a wide variety of civic and charitable causes--this couple is personally and intimately involved in working to make this university, this community and this state a better place for all of us. Their commitment and enthusiasm renews our own energy to help build a better world." Randy is president and CEO of the Papé Group, which includes affiliations with Papé Lift; Flightcraft, Inc.; Hyster Sales Co.; Sanipac; Papé Bros., Inc.; Papé Properties; Liberty Federal Bank; Liberty Financial Group; and Industrial Finance Co. Randy worked with former UO business dean Tim McGuire to create a unique opportunity for UO students to develop the Business and Industrial Sales Program, which provides a close working relationship with local business leaders who teach, advise and offer internships and summer jobs to UO business students. Then the Papé Group provided the seed money to launch the program. Randy Papé has been a member of the UO Foundation Trustees since 1995 and is in line to head the organization in 1999-2000. He is a former member of the UO Business Advisory Council and the UO Athletic Advisory Council and their Long-Range Planning Committee. He served on the Governor's Task Force on Education and the Economy whose report recommendations are helping reshape higher education in Oregon. A few of Randy's many services to the community include serving as a member of the Citizen's Progress Board, the Oregon Community Foundation--Valley Leadership Council, the United Way of Lane County and as chairman of the 4J School District Advisory Committee for Football Stadium, as board president of the Oregon Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Lane County Juvenile Advisory Board, a trustee of Lane Community College and director of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. Susie Papé is a member of the UO Museum of Art board and is a former member of the UO Alumni foundation. In the community she has served on the board of directors of Sacred Heart Medical Foundation, the Tri County Campfire Board, the Shelton McMurphey House board, Kidsports, Tri Delta Corporation Board and Junior League of Eugene, and she is a past president of the Sunriver Tennis Village Homeowners Association. Both are UO alumni--Randy received his bachelor's degree in finance in 1972 and Susie earned her bachelor's the same year in recreational park management. He joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and she joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Randy also was inducted into the Phi Kappa Psi business honorary. They are Lifetime President's Associates in the UO Foundation. "Although they have been dominant forces in both the business and civic life of the community for nearly five decades," Frohnmayer said, "Aaron and Marie Jones have worked hard to stay out of the limelight. They usually choose to make their many contributions to various causes anonymously, whether supporting projects tackling the challenge of at-risk youth. or giving support to programs at the University of Oregon. "We are especially delighted to be able to award them Presidential Medals, in recognition of their many, many unsung gestures of support of students, athletes and the enduring mission of higher education," Frohnmayer added. Typically, the Jones donate seed money, also known as "start up" or "turn key" funds, to help launch projects, the kind of investment that is most likely to have a significant impact on a particular problem or to help propel an ongoing service into a new more substantive level of impact. It is the same kind of strategic investment that is reflected in his business leadership. Jones is owner of Seneca Sawmill and considered one of the most successful independent timbermen in the region for his foresight in retooling his operation in the early 1980s when others were disinvesting. He also is credited with helping to initiate the discussions that led eventually to a land swap that helped preserve sensitive stream-side forest lands from logging. Marie is co-owner, with her husband, of Seneca Livestock Co., which is involved in breeding and racing thoroughbred horses, and both are active leaders in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, dedicated to preserving the Western herds of elk. She is also an active member of the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital board. The Jones served as co-chairs of the Red Cross 75th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign, and the couples' support of the UO Department of Intercollegiate Athletics helped that program to develop consecutive winning seasons and to become a financially self-sufficient operation. Marie has served on the boards of the Assistance League of Eugene, the Willamette Science and Technology Center (WISTEC) and the Public Awareness Committee of the Looking Glass Foundation. Both Aaron and Marie attended the University of Oregon and are Lifetime President's Associates of the UO Foundation. -30- #G-1302/Local,PDX,Special