Mildred Schwab, Class of 1933
Mildred Schwab was one of the first women to study law, graduating in 1939 from Northwestern College of Law (now Lewis & Clark College). She organized a successful sit-in at a restaurant that was open to men only in the old Lipman Wolfe department store, and was part of a group of women who opened the City Club to women.
Mildred was appointed to Portland City Council in 1972 and reelected three times.
She passed away in 1999.
Mildred was appointed to Portland City Council in 1972 and reelected three times.
She passed away in 1999.
Ed Washington, Class of 1956
Ed Washington moved to the Irvington area after his family lost everything in the Vanport flood. While at Grant, Washington was the freshman boys league president and sophomore class president. He played on the freshman and JV basketball, on the JV track team, and participated in Dramateurs.
In 1956 he joined the NAACP, serving to end discriminatory hiring in local grocery stores. He was the Metro Council’s first African-American Councilor. After graduating from Grant, Ed worked for OHSU before attending and graduating from PSU in ’74.
In 2018, PSU named Washington the recipient of the Nohad Toulan Urban Pioneer Award for Public Service.
In 1956 he joined the NAACP, serving to end discriminatory hiring in local grocery stores. He was the Metro Council’s first African-American Councilor. After graduating from Grant, Ed worked for OHSU before attending and graduating from PSU in ’74.
In 2018, PSU named Washington the recipient of the Nohad Toulan Urban Pioneer Award for Public Service.
Deborah Kafoury, Class of 1985
Deborah Kafoury was elected in 2008 to the Multnomah County Commission focusing on helping families in crisis find housing; replacing the Sellwood Bridge and the Central Courthouse; and, working with the city, state and federal officials to address homelessness, early education, and child abuse prevention.
Deborah was elected in 2013 as the Metro chair where she established a Joint Office of Homeless Services to work in partnership with the city on the housing crisis.
Deborah was elected in 2013 as the Metro chair where she established a Joint Office of Homeless Services to work in partnership with the city on the housing crisis.
Mark Owen, Class of 1977
Mark Owen was an honor student and award winning gymnast during his years at Grant. After graduating from OSU, he worked at Tektronix as a design engineer. He taught engineering at the University of Limerick while completing his master’s degree in advanced manufacturing technology.
After working for the Irish Dept. of Science and Technology, he returned to Oregon to work for Electro Scientific Industries. Wanting to solve the world water crisis, Mark founded Puralytics. Among other products, the company makes SolarBag, a solar water purifier.
Owen was inducted into the OSU Engineering Hall of Fame in 2015.
After working for the Irish Dept. of Science and Technology, he returned to Oregon to work for Electro Scientific Industries. Wanting to solve the world water crisis, Mark founded Puralytics. Among other products, the company makes SolarBag, a solar water purifier.
Owen was inducted into the OSU Engineering Hall of Fame in 2015.