L. H. Gregory
Encyclopedia
William Lair Hill Gregory (May 18, 1886 – August 15, 1975) was a 20th century American
sportswriter and sports editor for The Oregonian
newspaper of Portland, Oregon
for more than 50 years. His popular column, "Greg's Gossip," was standard morning reading for several generations of Portland sports fans.
before returning to Portland. He began his sportswriting career for the Oregon Journal
, and moved to The Oregonian in 1914 when they offered him a $5 a week raise over his $25 a week salary at the Journal.
baseball team and the local boxing scene, which included fighters such as Joe Kahut, Leo Lomski, Denny Moyer
, and Tommy Moyer.
In all, Gregory worked for The Oregonian for 59 years (interrupted briefly while he served in the United States Navy
), retiring on August 31, 1973. He died in a Portland nursing home on August 15, 1975.
Gregory refused to refer to Oregon State teams as the "Beavers" since in his opinion, only the Portland baseball team could be called that name. Instead, he would call them "the Orange" or "the Orangemen."
In 1983, Gregory was inducted into both the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
and the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportswriter and sports editor for The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
newspaper of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
for more than 50 years. His popular column, "Greg's Gossip," was standard morning reading for several generations of Portland sports fans.
Early life and career
Born in Portland to local attorney William M. Gregory and Lenore Sparks Gregory in 1885, Gregory attended the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
before returning to Portland. He began his sportswriting career for the Oregon Journal
Oregon Journal
The Oregon Journal was Portland, Oregon's daily afternoon newspaper from 1902 to 1982. The Journal was founded in Portland by C. S. Jackson, the publisher of Pendleton, Oregon's East Oregonian newspaper, after a group of Portlanders convinced Jackson to help in the reorganization of the Portland...
, and moved to The Oregonian in 1914 when they offered him a $5 a week raise over his $25 a week salary at the Journal.
Sports editor and columnist
Gregory (who used "L. H." as his byline and was called "Greg" by colleagues and friends) became sports editor at The Oregonian in 1921. He also wrote a daily column called "Greg's Gossip" in which he covered the Portland and national sports scene, paying particular attention to the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
baseball team and the local boxing scene, which included fighters such as Joe Kahut, Leo Lomski, Denny Moyer
Denny Moyer
Denny Moyer was an American boxer who held the world light middleweight title between 1962 and 1963. He finished his career with a 97–38–4 record.-Early life:...
, and Tommy Moyer.
In all, Gregory worked for The Oregonian for 59 years (interrupted briefly while he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
), retiring on August 31, 1973. He died in a Portland nursing home on August 15, 1975.
Legacy
Gregory's creative sportswriting still affects Oregon sports, as many of the nicknames for Oregon sports personalities and teams that he created and popularized in his columns are still in use, including:- Johnny PeskyJohnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
, the name he created for Portland Beaver star John Paveskovich (prior to his long career with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
) since his name didn't fit in headlines - "The Tall Firs" as the nickname of the 1938–39 Oregon Ducks men's basketball team1938–39 Oregon Ducks men's basketball teamThe 1938–39 Oregon Ducks men's basketball team was a Division I college basketball team that represented the University of Oregon. The Ducks, coached by Howard Hobson, played in the Pacific Coast Conference and compiled a 29–5 won–loss record in regular and postseason competition...
, winners of the 1939 basketball national championship1939 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament... - "The Black Tornado" for the Medford High School (later North MedfordNorth Medford High SchoolNorth Medford High School is a public high school in Medford, Oregon, United States. It is part of Medford School District, and its mascot is the Black Tornado. It is the only school in America with the Black Tornado as a mascot.- History :...
) football team, coined by Gregory after a convincing victory over a Portland school, and which the school officially adopted to replace the "Tigers" - "Webfoots" as the first nickname for the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
sports teams
Gregory refused to refer to Oregon State teams as the "Beavers" since in his opinion, only the Portland baseball team could be called that name. Instead, he would call them "the Orange" or "the Orangemen."
In 1983, Gregory was inducted into both the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
and the Oregon Newspaper Hall of Fame.