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CORVALLIS - The Oregon State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development program celebrated its 100th year of service to Oregon youths by inducting 100 4-H supporters and leaders into the newly created Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame.

The inaugural group of 4-H Hall of Famers, dubbed the 'Centennial' class, was recognized at a special induction ceremony held recently at OSU. Future members of the Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame will be inducted annually.

"In honor of the past century of hard work building and maintaining one of the finest state 4-H youth programs in the country, we established the Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame to acknowledge those individuals who've made significant contributions to 4-H over the years," said Jim Rutledge, OSU 4-H Youth Development program leader.

The 100 inductees selected through a nomination process include 4-H volunteer leaders from throughout the state, campus-based OSU 4-H youth development specialists, county-based 4-H field faculty, and 4-H donors who have provided financial support.

"These 'Centennial' inductees all share in common great dedication and excellence in service to 4-H," said Rutledge. "For example, we have people in this group who have spent 50 years or more working as volunteer leaders in county 4-H programs."

The Oregon 4-H Youth program began in Yamhill County in 1904 when school superintendent, L.R. Alderman, organized a boys' 4-H industrial club in Dayton.

Since then a long line of committed 4-H volunteers, supporters and OSU 4-H Youth program faculty have continually worked to provide quality 4-H youth education programs aimed at helping Oregon's young people develop life and leadership skills, Rutledge said.

He added that the Oregon 4-H Youth program has had a noteworthy track record of success in developing new and innovative 4-H programs.

"The Oregon 4-H Program is recognized as a national leader in reaching out to Latino youth through programs like the 4-H Tech Wizards club that emphasizes computer and Web development skills," said Rutledge. "Oregon 4-H youth faculty are also pioneering new ways to evaluate the effectiveness of 4-H educational programs.

"The strength of the Oregon 4-H youth program has been, and continues to be, the devotion of our community volunteers and the quality of our OSU 4-H faculty who manage the program," said Rutledge. "Our challenges in the future will be to expand the outreach of 4-H to more Oregon youth and to create new educational programs that will appeal to the contemporary interests of today's young people."

The Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame 'Centennial' class members are:

• Amity: Delores Fanning, Edna Moon.
• Astoria: Myrtle Slanger.
• Beaverton: Hildah Highbe.
• Bend: Carolyn Schmidt.
• Burns: Joanna Corson.
• Canby: Dale Friedemann.
• Cascade Locks: Bea Scott.
• Central Point: Phyllis Caldwell.
• Condon: Ron and Gloria Davis.
• Corbett: Dorothy Klock.
• Corvallis: Alberta Johnston, Andy Landforce, Duane Johnson, Glenn Klein, H. Joe Myers, Jean Roth.
• Creswell: Dale and Betty Riddle.
• Dallas: N. John Hansen, Roger Fletcher.
• Drain: Mildred Whipple.
• Eugene: Lamoine and Enid Savage, Len Calvert, Norbert Vandehey.
• Gold Beach: Walt Schroeder.
• Grand Ronde: Elsie Werth.
• Grants Pass: Nancy Rand.
• Grass Valley: Emma Jean Smith.
• Haines: Barbara Wendt.
• Hillsboro: Bill Farrell.
• Imbler: H. Clayton Fox.
• Imnaha: Bonnie Marks.
• Irrigon: Lois Richards.
• Island City: Ralph D. Hart.
• Lake Oswego: Linda Erickson.
• Lakeview: Eva Marie Lindsey.
• Lebanon: Bert and Betty Udell, Joy Brougher Brown.
• McMinnville: Jackie Hurl.
• Merlin: Everett and Marjorie Seagoe.
• Milwaukie: Harold Black.
• Myrtle Point: Jean Davenport.
• Newberg: Ken Austin.
• Oakland: Gene Fisher.
• Pendleton: Evelyn Larsen.
• Pilot Rock: Grace Harvey.
• Portland: Linda Allen, Frances Price.
• Prineville: Blanche Harper, Dick Hoppes.
• Redmond: Elizabeth H. Johnson.
• Salem: Bob Ohling, Doris Schoenborn, Frank von Borstel, Jerry Brog.
• Summerville: Bob and Bobbie Cornford.
• The Dalles: Margaret (Margie) Stark.
• Tillamook: Rudy Fenk.
• Wilsonville: Vern Palmblad.
• Coulee Dam, Wash.: Roy Hamilton.
• Kennewick, Wash.: Dora Rumsey.
• Manhattan, Kan.: A. Lois Redman.

Oregon 4-H Hall of Fame members recognized posthumously are:

• Albany: O.E. Mikesell.
• Arlington: Marion Weatherford.
• Coquille: Ida Oerding.
• Corvallis: L.J. Doc Allen, Helen Cowgill, Burton Hutton, Cal Monroe, Joe Cox, Ken Minnick, Lee Allen, Rich Guerber, Ritz Oikawa, Harry Case Seymour, T.J. Starker.
• Eugene: Don Owen.
• Fossil: Kenneth Killingsworth.
• Gold Beach: Gladys Mann.
• Gresham: Regenia (Genie) Townsend.
• Klamath Falls: Tana Mankinen.
• LaGrande: James R. Jim Huber.
• Lookingglass: Katherine Cory.
• Madras: Jay Macy.
• McMinnville: : L.H. Alderman.
• Medford: Bill Bigham.
• Newport: Gladys Barclay.
• Ontario: E.M. Curl Hauser.
• Portland: Ed Shannon.
• Prairie City: Echo Kuhl.
• Redmond: Marvin Young.
• Salem: James Bishop, Z.F. Martin, Bud Forrester, Ivan Stewart.
• St. Helens: Robert (Bob) Stevely.
• The Dalles: William (Bill) Thomas.
• Tillamook: Margaret (Peggy) Parker.
• Warm Springs: Caroline Tohet.
• Yamhill: MaryAnn Greenlund.