Alumni Spotlight: Robert L. Rawson Class of ’58, B.S. in Secondary Education Robert (Bob) Rawson first noticed the change in climate when he relocated from Kansas to Oregon. Next he noticed the difference in size, having left Morland, a very small town in Western Kansas. He was nineteen when he visited the city, home to two of his sisters and a brother. Previously he had attended the University of Kansas, but left the school after one semester. Although his parents still lived in Kansas, Bob wanted to relocate to the west. After a few different jobs and a tour of active duty with Portland’s own 403rd Troop Carrier Wing, Bob again gave thought to getting a college education. He had his G.I. Bill and his brother-inlaw convinced him to take some classes at Multnomah College (a private school that used to be in downtown Portland). Success in these classes gave him the confidence to re-enroll full-time in school. At age 24, in the fall of 1954, Bob became a full-time student at Portland State College. He remembers, with a chuckle, the characteristically small campus. “The campus, at the time, was Lincoln Hall.” Despite its size, the college had much to offer him. He knew he wanted to major in secondary education with an emphasis in social science. He started with a minor in math but switched to speech, a choice he has always been happy to have made. In his senior year Bob, upon the advice of his professor Dr. Roberts, took some theater classes as well. Everyone taking a drama class was required to participate in theater productions, whether it be acting, lighting, or set construction. He played the lead character’s uncle in The Braggard Warrior, which was, originally, a Greek comedy. This theater experience paid off later in life when Bob directed school plays while he taught high school U.S. government, history, and speech. He eventually did some professional theater in addition to teaching for twenty-five years. Portland State’s relatively small size also meant the opportunity to build strong relationships with classmates and faculty alike. Bob described the relationship between students and faculty in one word, “close.” Everybody knew everybody, including the faculty. For the most part, the professors were young and most were engaged in the students’ lives. Dr. Frank Roberts (husband of Governor Barbara Roberts), who taught speech, was his favorite professor. Another favorite, Dr. George Hoffmann (for whom Hoffmann Hall is named), taught U.S. history and advised Bob’s fraternity. It was Dr. Stephen Epler (for whom Epler Hall is named) who helped Bob with his post-college career. After working at PSC in administration, Dr. Epler moved to California and eventually hired Bob to teach. Reflecting on his time at Portland State, Bob thinks there are benefits to attending an urban university. He sees the relationship between the University and the city as symbiotic. Studying in an urban setting means many available resources to students, such as internship opportunities, while at the same time, PSU’s programs directly benefit Portland. “PSU is an advantage to the city.” “PSU is an advantage to the city.”
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