Paul Green, Sr.

I got my start in competitive running from gym class. As a freshman, we had to run the 880-yard dash in gym class. Well, I finished first and the gym teacher-Coach Tom Desylvia told me I had the fastest time in school and suggested I try out for track! He’s the one who kept encouraging me as he noticed my potential first-hand. So I went out for track although there was only two weeks left in the track season. Needless to say, I made the team. In my first race, I took off running fast and hard and almost didn’t finish the race. After that, it didn’t take me long to learn that I needed to pace myself and learned how fairly quickly.

I finished third in the PIL City Meet as a freshman, running in regular tennis shoes because I didn’t have traditional track shoes. My sophomore year, I was placed on the Varsity team and there was not a junior or senior that could beat me on my team, finishing third in the PIL again. Continuing to work on my craft, I went into my junior year determined to do better, and that was accomplished by moving from third place to second, qualifying me as a State finalist.

In my junior year, I became team captain. Once I learned my potential, I ran almost everyday. My routine was to run from my home in north Portland to the University of Portland and back home. The University of Portland built an asphalt track in 1962/1963 and they had open races and I would compete with the college runners in the winter seasons. And then I did this every weekend my senior year. Sometimes, I would push myself and continue on all the way to the St. Johns bridge.

As running started to become a passion, I ran Cross Country two years and finished 15^th in the state my senior year. Senior year, team captain for the second year in a row, I continued improving and became PILCity Champion, went on to State Finals and won my heat, finishing in fifth place, setting the long-time undefeated Jefferson High School record of 1:56.3. The following week, I ran in the Junior Olympics Regionals and won, setting another record.

I give credit to my faith in God, as I became a faithful Christian my junior year. Little did I know then that when I was running all the way to the St. Johns Bridge, that I’d be passing the church I would be pastoring now, from 1983, Love Temple Church of God in Christ.

My initial desire was to attend college, and I even received an offer from the Universit yof Oregon and met with Coach Bill Bowerman. He explained to me what I needed, but it didn’t quite work out as planned. Looking back, God had other plans for me. In 1965, I was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam as a combat medic from 1966-1967. I served as a conscientious objector because of my Christian belief. I worked as a custodian before I was drafted and after my honorable discharge, I went back to my custodial job.

I soon learned that Tektronix was hiring, so I applied and was hired. This transition is where my greatest support came. I had managers who encouraged and selected me to take electronic classes at Tektronix and for the next 30 years I took classes after work. I had the pleasure of working on the latest technologies and traveling for the company to large electronic firms to make system repairs. While at Tektronix, I served as a first responder to medical emergencies around the campus, burns, cuts, and heart attacks. I was on the pilot team to test the new AED heartmonitor that just came out.

I married the love of my life, Betty Jean (Hall) Green, on July 30, 1966. After 59 years of marriage, we have five sons, four daughter-in-laws, 16 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. I want to thank Coach Bud White, Coach Edwards for their continued encouragement during my track career. I want to thank Murray Todd, Bob Woodle and the selection committee for choosing me for this great honor. And most of all, I thank God for this great opportunity, for in Him, I live and have my being.

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