Robert Eugene "Bob" Wethern

Robert Eugene "Bob" Wethern, who played low profile roles in Pacific Northwest publications since the 1940s, died Dec. 30, 2008, at the age of 87. Wethern was born Jan. 12, 1921, in Walla Walla, Wash., to Milton Eugene and Rita Blanche Cramer Wethern. He attended schools in Starbuck and Yakima, Wash., and Minneapolis, Minn., before enrolling in the University of Idaho at Moscow, Idaho. There he majored in journalism and, during World War II, became the only student to be editor of both the student newspaper and yearbook. He became sport editor of the then Daily Idahonian in Moscow, replacing Thomas Lawson McCall who went on to become a governor of the State of Oregon. In 1946 he joined the then Bremerton Sun daily in that city as a reporter/photographer, winning several writing and photography awards from Associated Press. In 1957, he joined the northwest region staff of the National Association of Manufacturers in Portland, achieving regional manager status before retirement in 1979. Wethern?s roles in flyfishing publications circles began in 1961 as founding secretary of the Flyfishers Club of Oregon. They culminated in his editorship of a Rivers of Oregon series of books of angling histories of the McKenzie, Umpqua, Rogue, and Deschutes rivers. He also was acquisitions editor for a limited edition book club which produced two books by noted fly dresser/historian George Grant of Butte, Mont., and set in motion publication of Robert H. Smith?s noted Native Trout of North America. He additionally encouraged and assisted several other regional writers in publication of their books. Wethern?s charter membership in the Oregon Fly Club included roles as its fourth president and a life-honorary membership. Other memberships included Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Oregon Society of Association Executives, Toastmasters Int., the Tacoma Club in that city, B.P.O.E. lodges in Moscow and Bremerton, and the Federation of Fly Fishermen. He is survived by his wife, Gwen Wethern; son, John Wethern; and daughters, Robin Rigall and Christine Classen. Extended family includes eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three stepchildren. Donations in his memory can be made to the Flyfishers Club of Oregon or the Oregon Historical Society. Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits.