Bob Stacey, proper, died this week. He was a deeply influential determine in Oregon land use.
Courtesy of Metro / Courtesy of Metro
Bob Stacey, one in all Oregon’s most influential figures in land use and transportation, died Thursday on the age of 72.
Stacey was one of many pioneering attorneys who helped lay the authorized foundations for Oregon’s distinctive progress administration system, which limits suburban sprawl and protects farmlands and different open area. He helped wage a type of authorized battles in opposition to the Rajneeshee cult, which tried to construct a metropolis on farmland in Central Oregon’s Wasco County within the Nineteen Eighties.
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As Portland’s planning director within the early Nineties, Stacey helped deliver denser housing growth to town as he sought to accommodate inhabitants progress with out having to depend on ever-increasing suburban sprawl. He later held prime coverage roles for TriMet and within the administration of Gov. Barbara Roberts, the place he sought to bolster transit and different alternate options to driving. He additionally served as a councilor for Metro, the Portland space’s regional authorities, from 2012 till he stepped down in 2021 as he battled well being issues.
“Oregon simply misplaced crucial individual that most individuals have by no means heard of,” U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer mentioned in a press release saying Stacey’s dying.
In an earlier tribute to Stacey on the Home flooring final yr, Blumenauer mentioned: “He’s been a thought chief in all issues that matter — environmental safety, land use, local weather, site visitors congestion, inexpensive housing, air high quality, financial growth.”
Whereas Stacey could also be largely unknown to common Oregonians, he helped form the best way Oregon grew, and he schooled generations of activists on the significance of curbing the type of sprawling growth so typically discovered across the nation.
“Bob by no means ran out of artistic concepts on shield Oregon’s communities, farms and forests, and join all of them collectively,” Metro President Lynn Peterson mentioned in a press release.
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When he stepped down, Stacey praised Portland’s regional authorities, saying it has the authority to work with native governments all through the world to develop a coordinated progress coverage.
“We’ve got a aggressive benefit, to be emulated,” he mentioned on the company’s webpage. “I’m actually optimistic in regards to the area’s prospects, by way of economic system, progress growth – and the assets that maintain this place particular.”
Stacey was one of many authentic staffers for 1000 Buddies of Oregon, the watchdog group arrange shortly after the creation of Oregon’s statewide planning system by the Legislature in 1973. The group, backed by iconic Gov. Tom McCall after he left workplace in 1975, performed a giant authorized and lobbying position in guaranteeing that Oregon would have a powerful system.
In his first years on the job, Stacey fought for a powerful city progress boundary across the Portland area and helped kind alliances with the housing business to form new growth patterns. Stacey’s job was “all issues city,” recalled Richard Benner. Benner went to legislation faculty with Stacey and labored for 1000 Buddies.
As a gubernatorial aide to Roberts, Stacey inspired her to oppose a proposed freeway — the Westside Bypass — on the western fringes of Washington County. He incessantly biked to work and round city, and a bicycle and pedestrian overpass was named for him in Southeast Portland.
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In his lengthy profession, Stacey additionally served at occasions as a prime aide to Blumenauer at Portland Metropolis Corridor and within the U.S. Home.
In his flooring speech final yr, Blumenauer mentioned that the Rajneeshees had as soon as tried to poison Stacey. The congressman was referring to a field of sweets despatched to 1000 Buddies, ostensibly from supporters within the Columbia Gorge. Stacey shortly grew to become suspicious that the Rajneeshees might need poisoned the candies after he discovered the chocolate didn’t truly come from the Gorge group.
Benner, who additionally was one of many authentic 1000 Buddy attorneys, mentioned the group by no means truly examined the sweets. However the Rajneeshees had been behind the poisoning of quite a few salad bars in The Dalles that well being authorities discovered sickened greater than 700 patrons. Ma Anand Sheela, the highest aide to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, in addition to one other prime Rajneeshee official, later served jail phrases on a number of costs, together with ones associated to the assaults.
After serving a number of posts in authorities, Stacey returned to go 1000 Buddies within the early 2000s. On the time, voter-approved property rights initiatives had been threatening the way forward for the land planning system. Stacey labored with legislators to supply a measure that gave rural property house owners the proper to construct some extra homes however that prevented large-scale developments.
He was recognized in 2012 with meningioma, which causes tumors in and across the cranium, Metro officers mentioned. The situation worsened final yr, forcing him to step down from the company. He’s survived by his spouse, Adrienne Stacey, and by two daughters and two grandchildren.
No. 9 Oregon State put on a show in its first 2025 home gymnastics meet Saturday, scoring 196.40 points to easily beat Brigham Young at Gill Coliseum.
Senior Jade Carey, performing in a home meet for the first time since winning two Olympic gold medals last summer, scored 39.725 in all-around. Carey had scores of 9.95 on bars and floor, 9.925 on beam and 9.90 on vault.
Carey had the highest score in each event on either team. The best scores by a Beaver gymnast aside from Carey were 9.85s by Natalie Briones (bars), Sage Thompson (bars), Lauren Letzsch (beam), Savannah Miller (floor) and Sophia Esposito (floor and beam).
Brigham Young scored 194.2 points. Kylie Eaquinto led the way with an all-around score of 39.050.
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— Nick Daschel covers the Oregon State Beavers. Reach him at 360-607-4824 or @nickdaschel. Listen to the Beaver Banter podcast or subscribe to the Beavers Roundup newsletter.
On Saturday morning at the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, three-star prospect T’Andre Waverly announced his commitment to Oregon State over Washington and Notre Dame.
The product of Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington, is ranked as the nation’s No. 96 athlete and No. 18 player in the state in the 2025 class by 247Sports. Once he arrives in Corvallis, he’s expected to play tight end.
“I believe in [offensive coordinator Ryan] Gunderson for the future,” Waverly told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman. “And I’m excited to get to know the new tight ends coach [Will Heck].”
“[Head coach Trent] Bray seems like a real get to business guy and I like that. I don’t want a coach who will pamper me. I want someone who will tell me what I need to do and what to do.”
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Despite seeing the in-state prospect going elsewhere, tight ends coach Jordan Paopao has pulled in a promising batch at the position after signing four-star Baron Naone and three-star Austin Simmons in December.
For an athlete, a loss can shake even the strongest mental foundation. For Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, those feelings bubbled up after losing to the Oregon Ducks 32-31 at Autzen Stadium in early October.
While interviewing with ESPN before Ohio State’s semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns for the College Football Playoffs, the quarterback reflected on that feeling of loss.
“It’s been a rollercoaster. Some of the ups and downs that we did go through are why we’re sitting here today in the semifinals and probably playing our best ball right now,” Howard said. “There have been some tough moments. I’d say that Oregon loss early on in the season was rough.”
Oct 12, 2024; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) walks off the field after losing 32-31 to Oregon Ducks during the NCAA football game at Autzen Stadium. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Howard, who went 28-35 passing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, remembers what he did after that fateful quarterback keeper turned slide that sealed the fate of the Buckeyes during that regular season encounter with the Ducks.
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“Coming out of it I felt like I played a good game but it was really just the ending. I sat there and stewed over just how could I have done that differently. But when we got back here I think it was about six in the morning. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was kind of at a loss. I went into the indoor and I just laid there for about an hour – hour and a half. I was in a dark place. I just wanted another crack at them so bad. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the next chance I could get,” Howard said.
It wasn’t too long before Howard got his second chance with Oregon. After winning the Big Ten Championship, the No. 1 ranked Ducks were seeded for the Rose Bowl. With the Buckeyes easily beating Tennessee at home the previous week, Ohio State faced the Ducks once more.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) motions at the line of scrimmage during the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Before every game, I listen to two voicemails that my late grandmother sent me and I’ve been doing that every game for the last three years now,” Howard said. “I listened to the voicemail and it just brought this immense peace over me. This year for the playoffs it actually probably got me going even more. It really helped.”
Those voicemails helped Howard correct his headspace before facing Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Howard went 17-26 in passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes completely shut out Oregon in the first quarter, with the Ducks only responding at the end of the second quarter with a touchdown and two point conversion. Howard reflected on the point in the game where the Buckeyes were up 34-0 against the No. 1 team in the nation.
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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) holds a rose following the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Ecstatic. I mean, at that point it felt like it was almost not real. It was like ‘Man, are we really up on the No. 1 team in the country right now that we were in a dog fight with at their place?’” Howard said.
The Buckeyes won against Oregon 41-21, advancing to the Cotton Bowl Classic against the Texas Longhorns, where Howard and the Buckeyes are knocking on the door of a National Championship.
“You take a big National Championship ring and hoisting the trophy up. It takes a lot of the hardships and bad things that happened this year and kind of go out the window,” Howard said.
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