Page 26 - November 2017 Voices

HIDDEN TREASURE

EARLY OREGON TOASTMASTERS - PART 7

by Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian

Worth Wilson least 1943. Members
Caldwell, a Portland of the Portland
Toastmasters Club #31 charter member, was born Toastmasters club
June 13, 1902 in Portland, Oregon to William W. participated in
Caldwell and Lydia Hemsworth. Worth attended Speaker’s Bureaus
Jefferson High School in Portland and joined to promote Red
the high school debating team. In April 1919 he Cross funding drives.
and other high school debating students were These Toastmasters
selected to lecture in grade schools on victory
loans. He was president of the senior class from members were
1919 to 1920. He won a gold medal for an essay heavily involved
contest on the subject “Victory” What Price. in civic organiza-
After graduating from high school, Worth tions where public
attended Stanford University in 1921. He was speaking skills were
a member of the freshman debating team. He important. The civic
became managing editor and reporting editor activities allowed
for the Stanford Daily Palo Alto Daily. He was them to maintain social networks that were
a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Worth needed for their careers and to contribute their
participated in the university ROTC program talents for worthy causes. Worth was active in the
Field Artillery Unit. After attending two years, he Optimist Club and became Governor; District
left Stanford. From 1922 to 1923 he worked for 13, Salvation Army; and East Commercial Club,
a Bellingham, Washington publishing company Chamber of Commerce President; Progressive
then returned to Portland. J. R. Holman, owner of
a Portland funeral home, hired Worth Caldwell Business Club, Community Chest, Prime
who eventually became general manager and Minister of the Royal Rosarians 1941, just to
president. During 1932, he served on a civic name a few. He ran for a Portland School District
emergency committee working with the City board position and received 5,872 votes in a
of Portland to develop a work plan to hire June 1, 1937 election with five candidates in the
unemployed people to maintain city parks. He race. He was employed at the Holman and Lutz
joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He first Funeral Home where he held positions of Vice
met Frank McCasline, a Portland Toastmasters President, General Manager and President. He
Club charter member, in 1932. In September 1934 eventually took control of the Holman Mortuary
he participated as chairman for the American in 1943 after some litigation. The funeral home
Red Cross October Roll Call drive requesting was renamed Caldwell Colonial Mortuary. He
people to become members. His increasing was president of the mortuary for 35 years.
involvement in civic activities meant giving
speeches at meetings. Perhaps for this reason Worth Caldwell died April 1966. At the
he joined Toastmasters. time of his death, he was active in civic affairs
Worth became a charter member of including the Board of Regents of Multnomah
Portland Toastmasters Club # 31 during the fall College, Advisory Board of Friends of the
of 1934. He served as president of the club. His Library, University of Portland, and the Board
membership in the club continued through at of Directors Salvation Army.

26 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5 NOVEMBER, 2017