1971 President Archie Kelly Strong

Archie Kelly Strong was born in Marcola, Oregon, on February 20, 1910. His parents were both born in Oregon of pioneer families. His mother was born in Riddle, Oregon, and his father in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. When Arch was a small infant, his parents moved from Marcola to the small town called Reuben in the area of Glendale, Oregon. They settled on a homestead where his father was employed in the sawmill and railroad industries. During the World War I years, Reuben, which is now a ghost town, boasted of a post office, a general store, a sawmill, and logging and rail­road activities. There was then a population of some 200 people. Arch attended elementary school at Reuben, but it closed upon the year of his graduation. He attended high school in Glendale, where he was graduated in 1928,  then attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and received his B.A. degree in biology.

1971 - Archie Kelly Strong

The following ten years were divided between graduate studies in forestry and wildlife at Oregon State University, high school science teaching and coaching, and the U.S. Forest Service. He was employed in forestry and wildlife work in the Siskiyou forest in Grants Pass, Oregon, the Fremont forest in Lakeview, Oregon, and in the Superior forest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1939 to 1943, he was Junior Biologist in charge of fish and wildlife management on the Fremont National Forest. During the World War II years, he was granted deferment to engage in engineering work at the Oregon Shipyard in Portland, Oregon. His work consisted in the testing of engine room equipment and performance during trial runs on the Willamette River and subsequent ship delivery to the Navy Department in Astoria.

In 1946, Arch returned to high school as a teacher of science in the Portland area where he taught until 1955. He received his Master of Education degree from the University of Oregon in 1950. From 1955 until his retirement he has been in the employ of the City of Portland and the Multnomah County Public Health Departments in mosquito control work and in other insect control and research activities. In 1945 he married Miss Marion McCarthy who died in 1962. Laura and Arch were married in 1966. Laura has a daughter, Joyce Raines, Of Winterhaven, Florida, and a deceased son who was the father of Laura's two grandchildren.

Arch's major hobbies and interests center largely around nature and the out-of-doors, whether it be the seashore, the mountains, or the high plateau country. He is also interested in many of the organized sports and sporting events. He has held membership in the American Forestry Society, the Society of American Engineers, Oregon State and National Educational Associations, and currently belongs to the American Mosquito Control Association. His publications work has been limited primarily to research study reports in forestry, wildlife, and mosquito projects.

His interest in geology dates back to his boyhood years which were spent in a gold mining locality of Oregon. Curriculum demands did not permit geological study while he was regularly enrolled in college. Evening courses in geology were taken at PSU under Dr. Ruth H. Keen.

In the spring of 1965 and 1964, Arch and Mark Perrault joined the PSU Earth Science field trips to Camp Hancock. Interest developed on these trips and the influence of Mark who had previously joined the Geological Society resulted in Arch's joining the Society in 1964. He became vice president in 1970 and was subsequently elected the 37th president in 1971.

Archie’s memoriam article in the 2001 volume of The Geological Newsletter reads as follows:

ARCHIE STRONG D£C£ASED

His name was Archie Kelly Strong. Born February 20, 1910, in Marcola, Oregon, he died Sept 24, 2001 in West Columbia, South Carolina, having lived most of his life in Oregon. He graduated from Glendale High School, earned a BS from Linfield College, and MS from Oregon State University. He was a biology instructor and coach in Oregon high schools, and also worked for the forest service before retiring in 1975.

Archie pursued many interests. He had a long standing interest in the community garden at Fulton Park. He received many awards for his produce, and in 1999 received best of show for a single gladiolus blossom at the FP annual garden show. He was also very interested in 4 H and always attended their shows at the Oregon State Fair. He was a volunteer for many years at the Nature of the NW info center. He was an active member of GSOC, serving as president in 1971. Archie also served GSOC in the last few years as an after meeting host.

At age 91 Archie was still living alone and maintaining his own house and garden. He survived two marriages; his first wife Marian who died in the 1960's, and his second wife Laura. Survivors include stepdaughter Athena Vaughn, nephews Rock Roop and Kurt Rolfes and niece Ellen Mooshier. Remembrances can be sent to your favorite charity, 4H clubs of Oregon, or GSOC.

Historical note from Carol Hasenberg:

I remember Archie Strong because he and fellow member Gale Rankin prepared the snacks and tea and coffee service after the Friday night meetings as long as Archie was able to do so.