Summerville, Oregon
Glen Roderick McKenzie, 88, of Summerville, died Aug. 14 at a local care center. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 in McKenzie Theatre on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.
Mr. McKenzie was born Aug. 22, 1917, to Clyde and Myra Glenn McKenzie in Summerville. He attended Pleasant Grove School and Central School. He graduated from La Grande High School in 1934 and from Eastern Oregon Normal School in 1936. He was a member of the Theta Delta Phi Honor Society and farmed with his father.
He took civilian pilot training in La Grande and served in the Army Air Forces. On July 4, 1947, he married Jean Williams.
He was a charter member of the Union County Cattlemen’s Association, life member of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, a member of the advisory group for the Eastern Oregon Experiment Station, chairman of the La Grande Farm Bureau, a member of the Imbler school board for 12 years, a charter member of Bustles and Beaux Square Dance Club and a charter member of the Union County Planning Commission where he served for 12 years.
During the time he served on the commission the county received recognition from the National Association of Counties for land use planning. Union County was the first fully zoned county in Oregon and was also the first to have first minimum acreage requirements for farm land.
He and his wife co-chaired the Union County Bicentennial Committee. He was a charter member of the Blue Mountain Chapter of the Oregon Pilots Association, and chairman for 20 years of the Union County Extension Advisory Council. He was chairman of the organization that successfully promoted the Extension Service District, a board member of the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation and a trustee of the Eastern Oregon University Foundation. He was also a charter member of the EOU Presidents Club.
Over the years he and his wife earned the EOSC Distinguished Citizens Award and had a theater named after them, the Glen and Jean McKenzie Theater. He won various awards including OSU Extension Cooperator, OSU 75 Year Club, the OSU Agricultural Hall of Fame, Chamber of Commerce Service to Farm Community and Man of the Year in 1974. He was Cattleman of the year in 1989 and master of ceremonies for the Farmer-Merchant Banquet for 35 years.
Survivors include a nephew, Howard Hansen of Beaverton; a niece, Carol Boynton of Bend and other relatives. His wife died earlier.
Memorials may be made to the EOU Foundation or the Grande Ronde Hospital Foundation in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St.
The Observer Online, Obituaries for the week ending Aug. 19, 2006, Published: August 17, 2006