H. Clay Myers, Jr.

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. A graduate of Portland's Benson High School, Myers went on to the University of Oregon, where...