Ezra Koch
It is not often a garbage collector receives some of the highest honors his hometown can award, but that is exactly what happened to Ezra Koch in McMinnville.
Ezra was born on June 19, 1920 in Saskatchewan, Canada. His family moved to Portland in 1923 and they soon relocated to McMinnville where he attended grade school, junior high and high school. Ezra was elected student body president and class valedictorian at McMinnville High School in 1938. He was an outstanding high school basketball player and wanted to become a lawyer. Ezra was offered a four year scholarship to Linfield but had to turn it down in order to help manage the family garbage collection business with his brother Fred.
Ezra put his considerable energy and talents into City Sanitary and Recycling in McMinnville, which he owned and managed for over 60 years.
In 1946, Ezra was invited by Linfield President, Harry Dillin to assist in a fundraising campaign. The campaign became known as Partners in Progress for which Ezra served as chairman for nine years.
Ezra became more deeply involved in Linfield athletics in 1950 when he helped raise funds for an electronic scoreboard. Ezra was a major financial contributor for the Rutschman Fieldhouse and served on the Linfield Board of Trustees for 20 years.
Ezra was recognized for meritorious service by the NAIA Division II Hall of Fame in 1965.
On October 30, 1999 Ezra was inducted into the Linfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was one of two people inducted who did not play or coach at the college.
In a packed hall at Linfield in July 2000, Ezra was recognized by hundreds of friends and business associates for his energetic advancements in recycling. The company he and his brother Fred founded had recycled more than 100,000 tons of refuse in Yamhill County. They were leaders in their field long before it was politically correct. Ezra's wife Hanni and their five children, who provided musical entertainment at the celebration, heard McMinnville Mayor Ed Gormley extol Ezra’s contributions to the youth of the city. Linfield College President Vivian Bull conferred Linfield’s first honorary bachelor’s degree on this gentleman who never had the opportunity to go to college.
Ezra was born on June 19, 1920 in Saskatchewan, Canada. His family moved to Portland in 1923 and they soon relocated to McMinnville where he attended grade school, junior high and high school. Ezra was elected student body president and class valedictorian at McMinnville High School in 1938. He was an outstanding high school basketball player and wanted to become a lawyer. Ezra was offered a four year scholarship to Linfield but had to turn it down in order to help manage the family garbage collection business with his brother Fred.
Ezra put his considerable energy and talents into City Sanitary and Recycling in McMinnville, which he owned and managed for over 60 years.
In 1946, Ezra was invited by Linfield President, Harry Dillin to assist in a fundraising campaign. The campaign became known as Partners in Progress for which Ezra served as chairman for nine years.
Ezra became more deeply involved in Linfield athletics in 1950 when he helped raise funds for an electronic scoreboard. Ezra was a major financial contributor for the Rutschman Fieldhouse and served on the Linfield Board of Trustees for 20 years.
Ezra was recognized for meritorious service by the NAIA Division II Hall of Fame in 1965.
On October 30, 1999 Ezra was inducted into the Linfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was one of two people inducted who did not play or coach at the college.
In a packed hall at Linfield in July 2000, Ezra was recognized by hundreds of friends and business associates for his energetic advancements in recycling. The company he and his brother Fred founded had recycled more than 100,000 tons of refuse in Yamhill County. They were leaders in their field long before it was politically correct. Ezra's wife Hanni and their five children, who provided musical entertainment at the celebration, heard McMinnville Mayor Ed Gormley extol Ezra’s contributions to the youth of the city. Linfield College President Vivian Bull conferred Linfield’s first honorary bachelor’s degree on this gentleman who never had the opportunity to go to college.
Sources
Gerry Frank’s "Friday Surprise" column published in The Oregonian on July 7, 2000.
News Register, McMinnville, Oregon, 1999.
Ezra “Ez” Koch Life Tribute Presentation (Vimeo)
News Register, McMinnville, Oregon, 1999.
Ezra “Ez” Koch Life Tribute Presentation (Vimeo)
Last updated November 5, 2017.