Richard O. Eymann
Encyclopedia
Richard O. Eymann was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native of Alberta
, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College
. Eymann moved to Oregon where he would serve as a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives
, including one session as Speaker.
, Canada. After service in the South Pacific Theater during World War II as an airman, he attended Dartmouth College
in New Hampshire
. He graduated with a masters degree in business administration in 1947 and moved to Springfield, Oregon.
In Oregon, he worked for Weyerhaeuser
as an executive at their mill in Springfield. Eymann married Juanita, and they had eight children; Carol, Deborah, Katy, Patricia, Penelope, Ramona, Rebecca and Richard. Eymann would work for the Oregon State Tax Commission as executive secretary before entering politics. He also helped to found McKenzie-Willamette Memorial Hospital
in Springfield and was one of the original administrators at Lane Community College
, later moving to the neighboring Mohawk Valley.
. He won re-election and served in the 1963 legislature, representing District 13 after reapportionment. He was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Eymann returned to the Oregon Legislative Assembly
during the 1969 session. He was re-elected in 1970 to the same seat, and was elected again in 1972, but to District 44. During the 1973 session he was elected as Speaker of the House, serving through the 1974 special session of the legislature. He defeated Les AuCoin
in the election for the Speakership. During the session he served as Speaker the legislature passed many bills including the Oregon Shield Law, land use planning
, and a bill to allow public employees to unionize.
In 1974, Eymann lost his run at re-election to Republican Bill Rogers. In 1986, he attempted to get the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Bob Packwood
for U.S. Senate after the primary winner dropped out, but lost out to Rick Bauman
. In 1992, Eymann tried to return to public office, running for Oregon State Treasurer
. Eymann won 27% of the vote in the May Democratic primary, losing to Jim Hill
who also won in the November general election.
. Daughter Ramona has served as the chief clerk for the Oregon House since 1985, while daughter Katy married Bill Bradbury
. Richard O. Eymann died on September 26, 2005, near Springfield at the age of 86.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada, he served as an airman during World War II and then graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. Eymann moved to Oregon where he would serve as a Democrat in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
, including one session as Speaker.
Early life
Richard Eymann was born in 1919 in Medicine Hat, AlbertaMedicine Hat, Alberta
Medicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
, Canada. After service in the South Pacific Theater during World War II as an airman, he attended Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. He graduated with a masters degree in business administration in 1947 and moved to Springfield, Oregon.
In Oregon, he worked for Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
as an executive at their mill in Springfield. Eymann married Juanita, and they had eight children; Carol, Deborah, Katy, Patricia, Penelope, Ramona, Rebecca and Richard. Eymann would work for the Oregon State Tax Commission as executive secretary before entering politics. He also helped to found McKenzie-Willamette Memorial Hospital
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center is an acute care hospital located in Springfield, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1955, it serves the Lane County area. McKenzie-Willamette is investor-owned, and accredited by The Joint Commission...
in Springfield and was one of the original administrators at Lane Community College
Lane Community College
Lane Community College is a two-year college located in Eugene, Oregon. Its slogan is "Transforming Lives Through Learning."-Education:Lane Community College offers a variety of Associate's Degrees, such as:...
, later moving to the neighboring Mohawk Valley.
Political career
In 1960, Eymann was elected as a Democrat to serve District 14 and Lane County in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. He won re-election and served in the 1963 legislature, representing District 13 after reapportionment. He was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Eymann returned to the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
during the 1969 session. He was re-elected in 1970 to the same seat, and was elected again in 1972, but to District 44. During the 1973 session he was elected as Speaker of the House, serving through the 1974 special session of the legislature. He defeated Les AuCoin
Les AuCoin
Walter Leslie "Les" AuCoin , is an American politician and the first Democrat elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from since it was formed in 1882. The seat has been held by a Democrat ever since....
in the election for the Speakership. During the session he served as Speaker the legislature passed many bills including the Oregon Shield Law, land use planning
Oregon Senate Bills 100 and 101 (1973)
Oregon Senate Bills 100 and 101 were pieces of landmark legislation passed in 1973. It created a framework for land use planning across the state, requiring every city and county to develop a comprehensive plan for land use....
, and a bill to allow public employees to unionize.
In 1974, Eymann lost his run at re-election to Republican Bill Rogers. In 1986, he attempted to get the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Bob Packwood
Bob Packwood
Robert William "Bob" Packwood is a U.S. politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He resigned from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault of women emerged.-Early life and career:Packwood was born in...
for U.S. Senate after the primary winner dropped out, but lost out to Rick Bauman
Rick Bauman
Richard H. "Rick" Bauman is a former Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon who served in the Oregon House of Representatives and on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in the 1980s. He was also the Democratic nominee for United State Senator from Oregon in 1986...
. In 1992, Eymann tried to return to public office, running for Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
. Eymann won 27% of the vote in the May Democratic primary, losing to Jim Hill
Jim Hill (Oregon politician)
Jim Hill is an attorney, financial consultant, and politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served two terms as Oregon State Treasurer from January 4, 1993 to January 1, 2001.-Education and personal:...
who also won in the November general election.
Later years and family
In 1978, he assisted in the establishment of the Emerald People's Utility District, the publicly owned power and water company for Springfield. Eymann served on the board of the organization from founding until 2004. His son Richard C. is an attorney in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. Daughter Ramona has served as the chief clerk for the Oregon House since 1985, while daughter Katy married Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he grew up in Chicago and Pennsylvania before moving to the West Coast where he worked in broadcast journalism before running for public office. Democrat, he served as Oregon Secretary of State from 1999...
. Richard O. Eymann died on September 26, 2005, near Springfield at the age of 86.