Page 45 - January 2019 Voices

Hidden Treasure

Thaddeus Wellington Veness - Part 3

Harvey Schowe, DTM - District 7 Historian

From the 1920’s and until his death, Thaddeus 10, 1934 OIT committee meeting minutes, he
Veness continued a successful law practice, proposed that OIT organize debating clubs

teaching business law and participated in many similar to those conducted in colleges. On April
civic activities. He was elected as president of the 7, 1938, Multnomah Junior College, first forensic
Portland City club in 1923 and later served on the team Junia Benedict and Keith Billings debated
board of governors. He delivered a presentation Warner Pacific participants on question argued

address at the Oberlin College alumni association “Resolved, that the national labor relations board
sponsored elm tree planting ceremony at the should have power to enforce arbitration in
Arleta branch of the public library on February industrial disputes.” Multnomah College debaters
17, 1924. City of Portland Parks superintendent C. took the negative side. Veness was an arbitrator

P. Keyser who attended the ceremony accepted for this debate. He participated as a judge for an
the trees. oratory debate contest held at Irvington School
Thaddeus held a chairman position for the March 1, 1941 with Junior Red Cross as sponsor.
Oregon Bar Association grievance committee He was a judge at an oratory contest at Benson

during 1939. He was the 1935 forum chairman Polytech School March 31, 1941.
for the Council of Churches and elected president Thaddeus became more involved with
for 1940. After America entered World War II, he Toastmasters probably around 1940. He met
was hired as chief lawyer for the Oregon branch Donald Nelson, a member of the Portland

of the Office of Price Administration on May 6, Toastmasters club. Don invited him to a meeting
1942. He worked at this position for about two during 1940. He took down notes about the
years. meeting and then give an evaluation. In 1944,
Thaddeus Veness taught business law as part Thaddeus was a Portland Toastmasters club

of the YMCA Oregon Institute of Technology member in 1944 Thaddeus was described as
(OIT) business school curriculum. In 1925, he an instructor in public speaking for the club.
held position of chairman of the OIT academic Veness, wearing horn rimmed glasses provided
school committee. He often gave public talks tough evaluations for each speaker and the

about business law that included a talk titled toastmasters. The club had one evaluator.
“Law Training an Asset to the Businessman” Thaddeus Veness
for a KEX radio broadcast on September After leaving his chief attorney position
23, 1928. He eventually was elected on the at the Oregon branch of the Office of Price

YMCA management committee for Oregon Administration during World War II, he returned
Institute of Technology. This committee made to private law practice in 1944.He was the oldest
decision to split the junior college into OIT practicing Oregon lawyer at 97 years of age when
and Multnomah College. According to April he died in July 1983.

VOICES! | JANUARY 2019 45