Tom McCall

Thomas Lawson McCall (March 22, 1913 – January 8, 1983) was an American politician, a Republican, and the thirtieth governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975.

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Oregon's constitution prevented McCall from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 1974. He returned to journalism, writing a newspaper column and serving as commentator for Portland television station KATU. He made an unsuccessful bid to return to the governorship in 1978, losing in the Republican primary to State Senator Victor G. Atiyeh, who went on to defeat incumbent Robert W. Straub.

Related Topics:
1974 - 1978 - Victor G. Atiyeh - Robert W. Straub

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After McCall's final attempt at the governorship a group launched an initiative to repeal McCall's most lasting legacy, the state's land use planning system, which included the creation of urban growth boundries. Measure 6 went on the ballot for the 1982 election and McCall vowed to fight it to the end. McCall was dying of cancer and used the final months of his life making sure that Measure 6 did not pass.

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"You all know I have terminal cancer-and I have a lot of it. But what you may not know is that stress induces its spread and induces its activity. Stress may even bring it on.

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Yet stress is the fuel of the activist. This activist loves Oregon more than he loves life. I know I can't have both very long. The trade-offs are alright with me.

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But if the legacy we helped give Oregon and which made it twinkle from afar-if it goes, then I guess I wouldn't want to live in Oregon anyhow."

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Measure 6 failed to pass in the '82 election and McCall had won his final battle. With that McCall was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in |Portland just over a month after the election.

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Tom McCall once said "You're terminal from the minute you arrive. You've been going to go ever since you got here. Still it is unacceptable when the calendar hints that the prospect has lost its open-endedness. Despair strikes you and what was vaguely inevitable is barely down the road anymore."

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McCall lost his lengthy battle with prostate cancer on the morning of January 8 1983. McCall's lasting legacy has left an Oregon that would not have been without him.

Related Topics:
Prostate cancer - January 8 - 1983

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