PSU Magazine Winter 2004

Dick Powers: photographer of PSU athletes in action Prior to a Portland State kickoff, Lip-off, first pitch, or first serve-as athletes are warming up-they often say hello Lo photographer Dick Powers. It's not often that a group of 18- to 22-year-olds connect so well with an 83-year-old man. Powers knows his bond with young people is unique. "I have to meet them on their age level when I talk Lo them-not them on mine. I know it was that way when I was their age ," he says. Powers, a local photographer and videographer, has become a regular on the Viking field by volunteering his time and expertise photographing stu– dent athletes and coaches. And this from a man who keeps trying to retire, but can't quite make the transition. "I can't walk by a senior citizen cen– ter without trembling," says Powers humorously. "I can't sit by like some of my so-called 'peers' and wait for 'the box."' It is a remarkable contribution and a great boost for Viking Athletics to have someone volunteer their time to the level that Powers does, says Mike Lund, Athletics media relations direc– tor. Literally thousands of his photos are used every year in programs, media guides, schedule cards, on the GoViks Web site, and elsewhere. Amazingly, Powers does all of this work gratis , says Lund, charging the Athletics Department only for photo– graphic materials. "The service that Dick provides to us is invaluable. We wouldn't be able to do many of the things we can without his help," says Lund. "But more than that, I have known Dick since 1989, and he never ceases Lo inspire me with his energy and willingness Lo help. I have great respect for him for what he has done for Portland State and in his Ii fe outside of Portland Stale." Despite his age, Powers admits to loving the "action" associated with working with an athletics program. "I spent 26 years in the military, most of it in combat-oriented defense. I can't stop moving now." Powers is a World War 11 and Korean War veteran. He spent 26 years in active duty in the U.S. Army, special– izing in mountain and cold weather training, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Powers served in the 10th Mountain Division in World War 11, and as a com– bat leader in Korea. He is particularly proud of serving as the security officer at the armistice negotiations al Pan- GET ALL OF THE LATEST sports news at www.GoViks.com . Game stories, statistics, sched– ules, team information, press releases, and much more are available and updated daily. You can also listen to live broad– casts of football and men's and women's basketball games, or archived broadcasts. Buy season and single game tickets online at www.GoViks.com or call 1-888-VIK-TIKS or 503-725-3307. munjom, Korea. His military exploits have been featured Lwice in recent years in The Oregonian newspaper. That would be enough action for any one lifetime. But, following his retirement from the military, Powers began a career in photography and videography, working for Photo An Studios in Portland for two decades. He also began a long association with Mt. Hood Meadows, photographing the ski resort since the day it opened in 1968. Powers retired from that career in the late 1980s, about the same Lime he met former PSU Sports Information Director Larry Sellers. Sellers invited Powers to come and shoot a football game, and he gladly accepted. That began Powers' affilia– tion with the Viking Athletics program that has continued and grown for some 15 years. However, this wasn't Powers' first contact with Portland State. "I was present when Vanport was wiped out (by the 1948 Oood), work– ing as a Multnomah County reserve deputy when I was trying to be a civil– ian between stints in the Army," remembers Powers. "I was clown there when the dike broke, trying to keep people out and maintain their safety. "l watched the college go water– borne. I saw a Vanport building Ooat– ing east across Union Avenue." Today, besides working for the Vikings, Powers is also a photographer and videographer for the Portland Rose Festival Society and still works with Mt. Hood Meadows. All the while he keeps up with his children and grand– children, and remains in close contact with the 10th Mountain Division as its members volunteer for Oregon's Adopt-A-Highway program. That would be enough work to exhaust a man half his age, but Powers always has the energy for more. That is the lesson learned, and appreciated , by those who know him in the Portland State Athletics program. D WlNTER 2004 PSU MAGAZINE 29