Portland State Magazine Spring 2012

Oppomc cop: Verdell and Otto Rutherford proudly display a treasured newspaper from the 1950s. They are standing in front of their Portland home, which is now a state historic landmark. The couple were in their late 80s when Otto passed away in 2000 and Verdell in 2001 . Opposite bottom: The Rutherfords served as NAACP local officers, national delegates, and started an NAACP federal credit union out of their home. Top left: As members of an NAACP delegation, Verdell and Otto Rutherford (far right) worked with Sen. Philip Hitchcock and Rep. Mark 0. Hatfield (seated) on the passage in 1953 of an Oregon civil rights bill. Other delegation members are (left to right) Edgar Williams, Marie Smith, Ulysess Plummer, Rev. J. Harold Jones, and Lorna Maples. Top Right: Verdell Burdine and Otto Rutherford before they married in 1937. Bottom. Black Masonic Grand Lodge members traveled in 16 train cars in 1937 to a convention in Portland. SPRING 2012 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 11