PSU Magazine Winter 1999

course in U.S. history interesting and exciting. But that is exactly what he did. George was either so immersed in the subject or had such a sense of humor and theater that he often became a live participant in the narrative." One of his favorite subjects was the Civil War, says Lemman, adding that Hoffmann was known to "draw his saber and charge across the room." Hoffmann was "the greatest teacher I ever took a class from or met in later years," says another former Vanport student, Jack Sollis. "He made history come alive. By the second term, so many students wanted in his class they had to set a limit. He even managed to keep the 'jocks' awake!" Once during his first years at Vanport, however, "he was pressed into service as a teacher of the Principles of Economics and always had a supply schedule confused with a demand schedule," according to Epler. "After a near riot in class near the end of the quarter, he gracefully retired to teaching history." man of wide-ranging ("\ interests that included popular culture, movies, and sports, Hoffmann was a big supporter of PSU athletics, according to White. Once, to help a star football player make up for course work he couldn't handle, "he sent him down- town to find evidence of Greek columns," he says. Hoffmann's dry sense of humor was legendary, says PSU history Professor Gordon Dodds. "He loved to tell funny stories about himself," including his infamous prediction that Dewey would trounce Truman in the 1948 election. "It's the first campaign in history where victory is so utterly definite in advance of the election," Hoffmann said before the election, declaring that he would give students who wanted to bet against him "sizable odds." The Vanguard later advised students that they could "collect their winnings in Hoffmann's office, provided they contact him before the last of his funds are expended. Contributions for his welfare, including something besides beans, may be brought to him personally." In 1964, after his return from a sabbatical, Hoffmann received a note from PSU President Branford Millar reminding him that-in keeping with the Administrative Code-he needed to report on his research activities during his year away. Hoffmann soon turned in his report, adding at the end: "Incidentally, I take no offense at your bringing to my attention this small matter relative to Code require– ments in cases of sabbatical leave. I do read the Code religiously and regularly and have made it a point to be able to memorize most of its provision . Some people quote Shakespeare, others quote the Bible, or the mouthings of certain personalities such as Ulysses S. Grant or Lyndon B. Johnson. I prefer the inspiring, although at times stark, prose of our Administrative Code." uring the late '60s, Hoffmann and Dean Howard Boroughs engaged in an on-going game of one-upmanship by sending memo– randums back and forth to each other in foreign languages, including Chinese and Japanese. "Whatever gave you the idea that I played fair? This has been the farthest thing from my thoughts and mind since I was six day~ old," Hoffmann says in the last note in the series. "I do concede, however, that I am out of my depth in this whole competition and having learned a long time ago that there were and always would be stronger, better looking, smarter, more resourceful, more devious and sneaky people around than I am, I give up." D (Jack Yost MA '71 , a Portland writer and filmmaker, wrote the article "Rebels Without a Cause," which appeared in the fall 1998 PSU Magazine.) WINTER 1999 PSU MAGAZINE 11