Fred Volz
Frederick ("Fred") Emil Volz was born on September 27, 1910, in Sutton, Nebraska, the son of Wilhelm and Elizabeth (née Abel) Volz. At home, he was known as "Fritz."
Photograph of Fred Volz during his playing days at Grant High School. Source: OHS Digital Collections. Oregon Journal Negative Collection; Org. Lot 1368; Box 371; 0371N2566
Wilhelm Volz, at the age of 10, departed with his parents and family from their home in Balzer, Russia, and arrived in the United States in November 1891. Wilhelm's brother, Jacob Volz, Sr., was one of three representatives from the Volga Relief Society sent to Russia during the famine of 1921-1923.
The Wilhelm ("William") Volz family moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1923, where they briefly lived on E. 9th Street before building a house on NE Skidmore.
Fred attended Rose City Grammar School and Grant High School (Class of 1930), where he was a three-year letterman and a three-time member of the All-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) team. Volz was the star of the PIL Championship team his sophomore year and captain of the football team his senior year.
Fred was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame in 2004.
Fred entered Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) on a football scholarship in 1930, but a car accident injured his hand, hampering his play. He transferred to Portland State College (now Portland State University), where he played his remaining three years on scholarship.
In 1939, Fred joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a Warrant Officer for 20 years.
In 1955, Fred published a book titled Our Heritage, chronicling his family's history in Russia and the United States.
Fred Volz died on March 15, 1993, in Tacoma, Washington.
The Wilhelm ("William") Volz family moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1923, where they briefly lived on E. 9th Street before building a house on NE Skidmore.
Fred attended Rose City Grammar School and Grant High School (Class of 1930), where he was a three-year letterman and a three-time member of the All-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) team. Volz was the star of the PIL Championship team his sophomore year and captain of the football team his senior year.
Fred was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame in 2004.
Fred entered Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) on a football scholarship in 1930, but a car accident injured his hand, hampering his play. He transferred to Portland State College (now Portland State University), where he played his remaining three years on scholarship.
In 1939, Fred joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a Warrant Officer for 20 years.
In 1955, Fred published a book titled Our Heritage, chronicling his family's history in Russia and the United States.
Fred Volz died on March 15, 1993, in Tacoma, Washington.
Fred Volz, PIL Hall of Fame website.
Sources
"United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899-2012," Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-42560-23670-27?cc=2367299 : accessed 28 June 2015), 100415111 > image 4291 of 8918; American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln.
PIL Hall of Fame website
AHSGR Clues 1980 - Part 2, page 49
Ancestry.com
PIL Hall of Fame website
AHSGR Clues 1980 - Part 2, page 49
Ancestry.com
Last updated October 7, 2025