Page 39 - July 2020

BURIED TREASURE

EUGENE TOASTMASTERS:

OREGON’S FIRST CLUB (Part 2)

Harvey Schowe, DTM

On February 14, 1922, YMCA students met and Kenneth C. Ables and Ray O’Donnell.
discussed the progress of the public speaking On September 21, 1926, Earl O. Immel
course. C. E. Emery of Emery Insurance Agency met with committee members J. L. Bland and
was in charge of the meeting. Emery joined Sherman W. Moody about organizing the public

Eugene Toastmasters in 1931. Earl Immel, who was speaking courses. Afterwards YMCA officials
in charge of the course, gave a short talk about it. announced Professor J. Gray of the University of
Frank Ebert, YMCA general secretary, and E. L. Oregon would teach the classes. The classes were
Keeney addressed the members. limited to 25 students. Stanley Gray headed the

The Eugene YMCA continued offering public University of Oregon public speaking department.
speaking courses through 1922. John Mason, a Eugene YMCA officials established public speaking
Eugene High School instructor from the public courses at nearby Cottage Grove beginning
speaking and drama department, taught the class November 20, 1926. Twenty-one students enrolled.

which began November 21, 1922. The YMCA Instructor Rev. D. P. Cameron taught the course
received $220 endowment from the YMCA using the national YMCA authorized text book
Headquarters in New York to help ex-service men Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie.
take evening courses. Public speaking classes During a January 1928 Eugene YMCA

continued through 1923. meeting, Mr. O. A. Houglum, chairman of
On November 24, 1924, Frank Eberhard, the the YMCA education committee, introduced
YMCA general secretary, announced a December Assistant Professor Albert Holmes Baldridge as
8th public meeting to organize a rudimentary the instructor for the courses. Henry Howard,

public speaking course for businessmen. The YMCA general secretary, spoke about the
Advisory for the course were Earl O. Immel, Carl importance of public speaking. He announced
G. Washburne, Judge G. F. Skipworth, Claude D. an increase in enrollment for the 12-week course
Rorer, and Albert R. Tiffany. The first class was for businessmen and women that started January

held Monday, December 9th. The instructor O. 25, 1928 at the YMCA Center.
A. Brown, Claude D. Rorer, president of the Bank Eugene Register Guard newspaper articles gave
of Commerce; Fred G. Stickles and Judge G. F. permission for information and photographs used in
Skipworth, Lane County Circuit Court; addressed District 7 Voices! magazine articles, District 7 history

the students on the importance of public speaking. about the YMCA public speaking courses, and Eugene
Students that enrolled in the course were Harry B. Toastmasters club.
Ruth, J. C. Balch, Earl G. Muir, Charles O. Larson,
J. L. Bland, E. O. Stout, Sherman W. Moody,

VOICES! | JULY 2020 39