H. Clay Myers, Jr.
| Clay Myers | |
|---|---|
Clay Myers at 1968 news conference.
|
|
| 22nd Treasurer of Oregon | |
|
In office January 3, 1977 – April 1, 1984 |
|
| Governor |
Robert W. Straub Victor Atiyeh |
| Preceded by | James A. Redden |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rutherford |
| 19th Secretary of State of Oregon | |
|
In office January 9, 1967 – January 3, 1977 |
|
| Governor |
Tom McCall Robert W. Straub |
| Preceded by | Tom McCall |
| Succeeded by | Norma Paulus |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 27, 1927 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | October 29, 2004 (aged 77) Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Myers |
| Children | 3 |
Henry Clay Myers, Jr. (May 27, 1927 – October 29, 2004) was an American politician who, during his career, was considered one of Oregon's most influential moderate Republicans, together with his contemporaries, Tom McCall and Mark Hatfield.
Born in Portland, Myers' childhood was spent in the coastal community of Tillamook, Oregon. He resided with his family briefly in Zimbabwe (known as Southern Rhodesia at the time) when he was 10 and in a 2004 interview with The Oregonian described it as "a mind-blowing experience." They lived miles from the nearest white family, and Myers said that he learned an enduring lesson in the futility of racism. [1]
A graduate of Portland's Benson High School (1945), Myers went on to the University of Oregon, where he founded the Zeta Omicron Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha (ZO 009), led the Young Republicans, and promoted student involvement in elections, campaigns and political issues. He studied law at Northwestern College of Law in Portland and attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.[1]
Before entering politics, he pursued a business career in banking and insurance.
Myers and his wife Elizabeth had three children, Carolyn, David, and Richard Clay.
Myers' first held office as Oregon Secretary of State, being appointed to that post in 1967 by Tom McCall who had vacated the office to become governor. Myers had been a staff member on the McCall gubernatorial campaign. He was elected to the office in 1968, and re-elected in 1972. In 1974, he was defeated in a bid for the Republican nomination for Governor by Vic Atiyeh, whom he had previously recruited to run for the state legislature. Term limits prevented his running for reelection in 1976, so he entered and won the race for State Treasurer. He served seven years in that office, to complete an exceptional eighteen years in continuous service in statewide public office.
...
Wikipedia