Letters to The Eagle - 1/4/2006

Mark Linquist: A friend from the family

To The Eagle:

If I were to tell you my name, most of you would not recognize it, and thats just fine with me. These words are not about me but about a time that has its place in history. It is about a family in a very small town on the banks of the mighty Columbia. This family for all intent and purpose was like any ordinary family. The thing that sets this group apart is that all the members of this family are about the same age, and thats unusual considering there were around 40 of us, brother and sisters, all in the Class of 1966, graduates of Wahkiakum High School. These words are about one family member in particular. Now I came into this family as an outsider around 1962. The minute I hit town, one name kept coming up everywhere I went. Who in heavens name is this guy Mark Linquist? All I heard from my sisters husband, Ralph Rodahl, was that Mark was the future of sports on the banks of this mighty river. Who is Mark Linquist? Well it didnt take long to find out!! Just a local kid who played ball (very well, I might add) and happened to be very smart, and had the looks to get what I could not seem to geta girl! Mark was my team mate from 62-66. We fought side by side on the gridiron, elbow to elbow on the hardwood courts, and roamed the diamond together as the boys of summer, doing battle with the likes of Naselle, Valley, South Bend, Ilwaco, and others. What manner of warrior was this Mark Linquist? Who was he?

I wish to share just a few thoughts with you as to who I perceived him to be.Mark taught me how to spell Cathlamet and Wahkiakum, and for an eighth grader dealing with me, thats saying something. Mark was the lightening quick halfback who scored all our touchdowns against Kalama in eighth grade. I played quarterback and wondered if I should keep giving this guy the ball. After the game, a very small cheerleader came up to me and after heaping much praise on Mark, said to me, You did a good job, whatever it is you do. After that encounter Marks chances getting the football in his hands, from me, were numbered.Mark was one of three sophomores to accompany the varsity to Spokane for our basketball tournament. You had to be good to travel with varsity as a sophomore. One night, we were getting our collective butts kicked. By halftime we found ourselves down by 17 points, and I was not optimistic about the outcome. At halftime, we exited the floor for the dressing room. Mark put his arm around coachs shoulders and said, Coach, we got em right where we want em!

In the next day's newspaper, the opposing coach referred to Mark as The Dark Haired Executioner. Mark had come out for the second half and proceeded to bury the team that had left us for road kill just minutes before. When the opposing coach gives you an Atta Boy, you know youre the man. For low these many years Mark has been a friend. Last August I had the privilege to see him and all the others at our 40th reunion. I hope you have had the honor of knowing Mark for he was indeed a good man. I will miss him, but I will never forget him. He is my teammate. He is my friend.

Phillip Settle,

Los Angeles

Sons of Norway meet goals, look ahead

To The Eagle:

It wasn't just The Eagle that accomplished its 2006 goals this year. The Norse Hall folks also met, and for some even exceeded, their goals for improving the building and grounds. If you haven't driven by and noticed the changes, you're missing a great sight. Thanks to Janet's Restaurant, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Burns Construction, Blix Construction, Trott Trucking and Stanley Sanitary Service for your support. With new paint, new name across the front, landscaping, and the cleared and leveled grounds, the Norse Hall is looking good! We're attracting new members and reviving activities - Mai Fest / Heritage Day held in May, Uff Da Sale in June, lefse making and Bazaar in November and Children's Scandinavian Christmas Celebration in December. Evergreen Dance Studio started weekly classes in October. A number of wedding receptions, birthday bashes, family reunions and memorials were held as well as the Ducks Unlimited dinner and Chamber Crab Feed. These fund-raisers help to cover maintenance and costs.

For those of you who remember such special evenings as the Senior Ball, Jr. /Sr. Banquet and Prom and that wonderful New Year's Eve Dance, think about becoming SON members and help us get more of those annual events back on our calendar in 2007. We welcome new residents as well. This is a great place to get to know the history of Puget Island. We hold at least eight meetings a year; business is brief, with time to be social. Join us and share your suggestions for future use of the building and property.

The good news is you don't have to be Norwegian to join, but it does help to be stubborn.

Kayrene Gilbertson

SON Financial Secretary

Puget Island

Letters To The Editor

The Eagle welcomes letters to the editor, with a preference for letters addressing issues of local interest. The following guidelines apply:

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The Wahkiakum County Eagle, 77 Main Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612

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