Vern Ryles
Vern Ryles was the longtime president of Poppers Supply Co. of Southeast Portland, a Director on the Northwest Pipe and Casing board, and a Managing Partner of Multnomah Land & Equipment, a leasing company. Vern rose to prominence for his devotion to improving the life of his city and state.
Vernon Barton Ryles, Jr. was born on September 25, 1937, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Vernon and Marie (née Harding - changed from Hartung) Ryles. Marie was the daughter of Anna Marie Frick (born May 22, 1879) and Jacob Hartung (born January 23, 1880), both born in Frank, Russia and married there on April 26, 1899. They immigrated to the United States in 1906 and became pioneers in the Walla Walla area, where Jacob worked as a builder and contractor. The Ryles family later moved to Portland.
Vern attended Jefferson High School in Portland, where he became student body president. His vice-president was Nancy Wyly, Vern's high school sweetheart, and future wife (they married in 1957). Vern went on to graduate from the University of Oregon in 1959.
Vern started out as a janitor with Poppers Supply Co. during his school years and rose to become General Manager in 1961 and President in 1968.
Ryles served as chairman of the Portland Chamber of Commerce (now the Portland Business Alliance), chairman of the Washington County Roundtable for Youth, an executive board member of the International Trade Institute, a director of the Oregon Partnership for International Education, a member of the executive committee of the Portland Leaders Roundtable, a trustee of the Boys & Girls Club of Portland and a director of Goodwill Industries of America. Vern was President of the East Portland Rotary Club from 1983 to 1984.
Nancy Ryles was like Vern: successful, dedicated to public service, and respected for her honesty and hard work. She served on the Beaverton School Board, then was elected to successive terms in the Oregon House and Senate. She was a Rose Festival Queen in 1955 and became the first woman to serve on the Public Utility Commission. They worked together to reforest the Tillamook Burn and to fight racism in Beaverton (in 1962, the Cedar Hills Homeowners Association banned blacks unless they were live-in servants). After a battle with brain cancer, Nancy died in September 1990.
After Nancy's death, Vern persevered and became chairman of the State of Oregon's Workforce Quality Council and a trustee at Marylhurst University. He joined the president's advisory board at Portland State University and became a director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Vern also joined the Greater Portland Trust on Higher Education and became the chairman of the Business Youth Exchange. In 1992, Mayor Bud Clark appointed Ryles to the board of the Portland Development Commission, the city's top economic development agency, and he became chairman of the board.
Vern won many civic awards and was widely respected for his honesty and hard work. Vern credited his maternal grandfather with instilling such virtues. His grandfather, Jacob Hartung, built the Lutheran Church in Walla Walla, where Ryles was born. Vern reflected on those virtues in an interview with The Oregonian in 1991:
Vern attended Jefferson High School in Portland, where he became student body president. His vice-president was Nancy Wyly, Vern's high school sweetheart, and future wife (they married in 1957). Vern went on to graduate from the University of Oregon in 1959.
Vern started out as a janitor with Poppers Supply Co. during his school years and rose to become General Manager in 1961 and President in 1968.
Ryles served as chairman of the Portland Chamber of Commerce (now the Portland Business Alliance), chairman of the Washington County Roundtable for Youth, an executive board member of the International Trade Institute, a director of the Oregon Partnership for International Education, a member of the executive committee of the Portland Leaders Roundtable, a trustee of the Boys & Girls Club of Portland and a director of Goodwill Industries of America. Vern was President of the East Portland Rotary Club from 1983 to 1984.
Nancy Ryles was like Vern: successful, dedicated to public service, and respected for her honesty and hard work. She served on the Beaverton School Board, then was elected to successive terms in the Oregon House and Senate. She was a Rose Festival Queen in 1955 and became the first woman to serve on the Public Utility Commission. They worked together to reforest the Tillamook Burn and to fight racism in Beaverton (in 1962, the Cedar Hills Homeowners Association banned blacks unless they were live-in servants). After a battle with brain cancer, Nancy died in September 1990.
After Nancy's death, Vern persevered and became chairman of the State of Oregon's Workforce Quality Council and a trustee at Marylhurst University. He joined the president's advisory board at Portland State University and became a director of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Vern also joined the Greater Portland Trust on Higher Education and became the chairman of the Business Youth Exchange. In 1992, Mayor Bud Clark appointed Ryles to the board of the Portland Development Commission, the city's top economic development agency, and he became chairman of the board.
Vern won many civic awards and was widely respected for his honesty and hard work. Vern credited his maternal grandfather with instilling such virtues. His grandfather, Jacob Hartung, built the Lutheran Church in Walla Walla, where Ryles was born. Vern reflected on those virtues in an interview with The Oregonian in 1991:
"That ethic for community was important -- probably over-emphasized because of their need to build community after arriving from another country."
Vern was recognized by the Urban League, the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Central Eastside Industrial Council, the Commercial Club of Portland, the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, and the National Association of Concessionaires. He received the National Summer Jobs Award from President Ronald Reagan.
After a life of service to his community, Vern Ryles died on August 7, 2013.
After a life of service to his community, Vern Ryles died on August 7, 2013.
Sources
"Owner Takes to Heart Making Positive Changes in His Community." The Oregonian [Portland], February 3, 1991.
"Profiles in Perseverance: Vern Ryles." The Oregonian [Portland], February 17, 1994.
"Vernon Barton Ryles Jr. Obituary." The Oregonian [Portland], August 11, 2013.
"Death Claims Area Pioneer." Union Bulletin [Walla Walla, WA], June 13, 1947. pg. 2.
"Oral history interviews with Vern Ryles [sound recording]," Oregon Historical Society, 1994 June 2-1995 Feb. 23.
The Descendants of Philipp Hartung and Barbara Lapp, Dr. Igor Pleve, Saratov, Russia.
"Profiles in Perseverance: Vern Ryles." The Oregonian [Portland], February 17, 1994.
"Vernon Barton Ryles Jr. Obituary." The Oregonian [Portland], August 11, 2013.
"Death Claims Area Pioneer." Union Bulletin [Walla Walla, WA], June 13, 1947. pg. 2.
"Oral history interviews with Vern Ryles [sound recording]," Oregon Historical Society, 1994 June 2-1995 Feb. 23.
The Descendants of Philipp Hartung and Barbara Lapp, Dr. Igor Pleve, Saratov, Russia.
Last updated October 23, 2023