Author: Tor Hanson

The Bulletin Special Pubs

Courageous Aviation

Tor Hanson

Originally published in Ageless Magazine – Winter 2015 Innately adventurous, Everett “Jigger” Endicott has spent a lifetime in the air as a civilian pilot and as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corp. Everett “Jigger” Endicott pointed to a photo of a young air cadet in front of his P-51 fighter. “That’s me,” he said. For the second time during the 20th Century the world was at war and he was one of millions of Americans serving their country. Today, Endicott is more at home in his easy chair. He was born in Hood River in 1919, but the … Continue reading Courageous Aviation

Bend Chamber of Commerce

Safety Improvements Slated for Downtown Bend Area

Tor Hanson

Originally published in the Bend Chamber Business Edition – August 25, 2017 At the last council meeting, several downtown Bend business owners expressed frustration when it comes to the safety of the business core area. Due to an influx of transients and homeless people, the area has become less safe for visitors and business owners alike. In the following weeks since the last council meeting, the city of Bend has brought together members from the Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA), Bend Police, and the District Attorney’s office to work on a Downtown Public Safety Improvement Plan. City Manager Eric King … Continue reading Safety Improvements Slated for Downtown Bend Area

Homesteader

Father Luke, The KKK, and the doctrine of Americanism in Bend

Tor Hanson

Originally published in The Homesteader (Deschutes County Historical Society newsletter) on May 2017 If you have attended a History Pub at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend, you may have seen an illustration of an audience of white-clad KKK members seated in front of a Catholic priest. You may have surmised that the incident happened elsewhere. After all, history books tell us the Klan was a racist movement in the southern part of the United States – far away from Bend, Oregon. The event actually took place in Bend, almost 100 years ago, when Father Luke Sheehan stepped onto the … Continue reading Father Luke, The KKK, and the doctrine of Americanism in Bend

Bend Chamber of Commerce

Changing Demographics: Central Oregon is Running Out of Employees

Tor Hanson

Originally published in the Bend Business Edition – April 2017 The good news: unemployment is down in Central Oregon. The flip side is a tightening labor market. As the boomer generation moves towards retirement, the demographics of Central Oregon are changing. The long-term trends are challenging but can be solved, according to Workforce Analyst Karla Castillo with the Oregon Employment Department. But in the short term, the region’s supply of available labor is shrinking. Few can dispute the fact Central Oregon is experiencing a growth spurt. Recently released statistics from the Population Research Center at Portland State University (PSU), show Deschutes and … Continue reading Changing Demographics: Central Oregon is Running Out of Employees

Musings

Rewriting Jönsson’s Life: The Back-story

Tor Hanson

I moved from Sweden to the United States in 1986 and lived in Los Angeles at the time, when I caught wind of a movie called “My Life As A Dog.” It was based on the book with the same name by Swedish author, Reidar Jönsson. Back in those days, it took a lot longer to get foreign movies to the United States – sorry to say, no iTunes. I finally saw the movie and fell in love with the story about Ingemar. Many years later, my wife, our daughter, and I moved from Los Angeles to Oregon to be closer to family. … Continue reading Rewriting Jönsson’s Life: The Back-story

Wireless NOW!

Wireless NOW! Hawaii On Air

Tor Hanson

Originally published in Wireless NOW! (An Ericsson Newsletter) – May 1997 Mention Honolulu and you evoke images of Waikiki Beach, shady palm trees and hula dancers. But when it comes to cellular, the island of Oahu is strictly business. Newcomer Hawaiian Wireless is involved in a turf battle over Hawaii’s 300,000 cellular customers. Weapons of choice include customer service and digital D-AMPS (IS-136) technology in the specialized mobile radio (SMR) spectrum. Hawaiian Wireless is the “new kid on the block” in a highly competitive market that already has four well-seated cellular providers on the island of Oahu, the most densely populated island … Continue reading Wireless NOW! Hawaii On Air

ScanoramaLeave a comment

Reidar Jönsson: Rewriting His Life

Tor Hanson

Originally published in Scanorama – April 1992 (Scandinavian Airlines’ Inflight Magazine) Swedish author Reidar Jönsson whose book, My Life as a Dog, was the basis of Lasse Hallström’s acclaimed film, is busier than ever. With a new book – My Father, His Son, a sequel to My Life as a Dog­ just out in the United States, he is currently doing a screen treatment of it. Born in 1944 in southern Swe­den, Jönsson published numerous screenplays, theater pieces, poetry and books before gaining public attention with My Life as a Dog. Ironically, he originally had no de­sire to see this book turned into … Continue reading Reidar Jönsson: Rewriting His Life

MusingsLeave a comment

Boom Operator: The Back-Story

Tor Hanson

The back-story to the Boom Operator article is pretty funny. The day prior to the interview with Sgt. Edwards, I drove from Bend, Oregon to Vacaville, California. I had orders to be at Travis Air Force base early the following morning. It was still dark when I left the hotel and started driving to the base. I was excited to get a chance to ride along in a military version of the DC-10, and wanted to get to my destination quickly. The Air Base Parkway leading up to Travis AFB was deserted and I decided to step on the gas and … Continue reading Boom Operator: The Back-Story

MusingsLeave a comment

Helicopter Pilot: Warren Petrie Back-Story

Tor Hanson

The back-story to the article about Warren Petrie harkens back to my love for airplanes and high-tech gadgets. As a KOIN 6 viewer in Bend, I watched many of Warren Petrie’s news reports from the Portland area. He always came across as a very personable guy with an exciting job; the perfect story for Boys’ Life Magazine. I pitched the idea and got the go-ahead to write the article. The interview took place at Warren’s home base at the Hillsboro Airport, just outside of Portland. My impressions about Mr. Petrie was spot on. He was personable and took me through the job of … Continue reading Helicopter Pilot: Warren Petrie Back-Story

The Bulletin Special Pubs

Maren Gribskov – Against All Odds

Tor Hanson

Originally published in UMagazine – February 2017 Maren Gribskov is synonymous with Pine Tavern. Her business acumen and audacity made her a woman to be reckoned with for almost half a century. Even though she would never admit to it, Gribskov was a pioneering force in Bend. And she did it all because her mother told her that she could do anything she wanted, even if it meant being a single woman doing business in a man’s world. The story of Maren Jensen Gribskov and Pine Tavern started in June 1894. Born to Danish immigrants, Gribskov spent her first 11 … Continue reading Maren Gribskov – Against All Odds