ted kulongoski
Former Governor | Portland, Oregon
Ted Kulongoski is a distinguished public servant whose career spans all three branches of Oregon's state government. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, serving from 1959 to 1963. Utilizing the G.I. Bill, he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri.
Kulongoski began his legal career in Oregon as a labor lawyer, co-authoring the Oregon Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act. He was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1974 and the State Senate in 1978. His commitment to public service led to appointments as Oregon's insurance commissioner and later as attorney general where he focused on reforming the juvenile justice system.
In 1997, Kulongoski was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court, serving until 2001. He was then elected as Oregon’s 36th governor, holding office from 2003 to 2011. During his tenure, he implemented budget reforms aimed at fiscal stability and invested in economic development, workforce training, and transportation infrastructure.
Kulongoski has also contributed to academia as a professor at Portland State University. His lifelong dedication to public service and his efforts to improve the lives of Oregonians reflect the values instilled during his time in the Marine Corps.
Karl Marlantes
Author | Astoria, Oregon
Karl Marlantes is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and acclaimed author whose writings provide an insight into the realities of combat and its aftermath. Born in Astoria, Oregon, and educated at Yale University and the University of Oxford, England as a Rhodes Scholar, Marlantes left his studies to serve in the Vietnam War as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. His courage on the battlefield earned him the Navy Cross, Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts and ten Air Medals.
After his service, Marlantes turned to writing, using his experiences to craft powerful works like “Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War,” a modern classic that vividly captures the chaos of combat, and “What It Is Like to Go to War,” a candid exploration of the psychological challenges veterans face. His novel “Deep River” further showcases his storytelling prowess, tracing the struggles of Finnish immigrants in the Pacific Northwest.
Marlantes’ voice has reached beyond the page, featuring in “The Vietnam War” documentary series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, where Marlantes shared his reflections on conflict and its consequences. His work continues to educate and inspire, offering a rare, authentic perspective on the human cost of war.