Another Alumn Profile - Carla 'CT" Taylor

(The following information was taken from Carla's profile on the Weber State website and reproduced here with Carla's permission)

A native of North Powder, Oregon, Carla Taylor (CT), received her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education, with minors in Health and History, from Weber State in 1984. In 2007 she was also named as the Senior Women’s Administrator at Weber State. In that role Carla will be responsible for advising WSU’s administration and athletic department on gender-equity issues, representing the university on Big Sky Conference committees that focus on enhancing opportunities for women in athletics, and being an advocate for women’s teams at Weber State.
The 2009-10 season will mark the 22nd season for Carla Taylor as the head coach of the Weber State women’s basketball program. She has been associated with the Wildcat women’s basketball team for over 26 years as a player and coach. She has the second-most wins among coaches in Big Sky history and has produced 23 All-Big Sky First Team selections and five District 7 Kodak All-Americans. In 21 seasons as head coach Taylor has amassed a career record of 292-300 at Weber State. She is 174-144 all-time in Big Sky Conference games. Heading into this season she has coached the Wildcats in 592 games.
Carla’s loyalties to Weber State began when she signed her letter of intent to play for the Wildcats and continued as she was hired as one of the youngest head coaches in Division I at the age of 26 in 1988.Taylor was a player and two-time team captain from 1980-84. She was a four-year starter and averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, despite having two ACL reconstructive knee surgeries during her playing career.She was a member of the 1982 Wildcat team that competed in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). CT currently ranks 12th among the all-time scoring leaders at Weber State with 1,122 career points. She is also ninth all-time in assists with 301 in her career for an average of 2.81 per game. In 1984, Taylor was the Gold Watch recipient for the Senior Female Outstanding Career Award at Weber State.Not only was Taylor a team captain for the women’s basketball team, she was also a member of the Wildcat track and field team. As a track and field athlete, Taylor qualified for, and competed in, the javelin at the 1982 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championship held in Knoxville, Tennessee.Taylor’s success did not end with her playing career. In fact, it was just beginning. Prior to becoming the head coach at Weber State, she spent two years at Morgan High School in Morgan, Utah, teaching and coaching volleyball, basketball, and boys and girls track. Following her high school coaching career, Taylor spent a year at the University of Utah as an assistant basketball coach. She had previously spent a year there as a graduate assistant coach following her playing career.In 1988-89, her first season as head-coach of Weber State, she had the best turnaround record in the nation, finishing with a record of 17-9 and were 10-6 in the Big Sky, finishing in a tie for third and making the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The Wildcats also qualified for post-season play in 1991.As impressive as the Wildcat program has been on the court, it has been equally impressive off of it as well. The team has consistently been named to the WBCA Honor Roll of Top 25 Academic Teams and Taylor has produced 118 Big Sky Academic All-Conference selections.In January 2005 Taylor was honored as recipient of the Athena Award, a national award program presented by the Women in Business committee of the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce. Off the court, Taylor has served as a basketball clinician throughout the Northwest, and is actively involved in community speaking engagements. She has served as an Honorary Commander for the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Hill Air Force Base and flew in an F-16 in September 2006.Taylor has served on the WBCA’s prestigious All-American selection committee for three separate terms. She has also served as the Big Sky Conference’s representative for two consecutive terms with the WBCA. She recently completed a second term on the Women in Business Executive Board. In 2006 Taylor served as a GOAL (Greater Ogden Athletes Legacy) Foundation member.
(And to think we used to take naps together in the summer sun when we were supposed to be working!)

Some old familiar sights

The post office
The old hardware store

The grocery store turned Baptist church

I climbed this tower!

United Methodist Church

so old and quaint looking

Profile: Mike McGarry

I've been a machinist for about 19 years. I've been working at Boeing for the last two and a half of that. I have three grown kids and one grandson who is just a kick in the pants. Oh yea, and a great wife.

After the Navy I worked on the ranch for a couple of years then we tried our luck in western Oregon. I worked in a sawmill outside of Molalla (where we moved) for three years where the last job I had was a lumber grader then came the spotted owl fiasco. So I got an entry level job in a machine shop (Stanley Hydraulic Tools) where I stayed for sixteen years. I then got on at Boeing.

We still live in Molalla.

"Old" familiar faces - recognize anyone?

Profile: Sandra Lee

After I graduated from Powder Valley High School I took off for college in Rexburg, Idaho. My sister Stephanie and her high school sweetheart and 79 alum, Gareld Smith, were also there. The next year, my younger brother Stephan also joined us in Rexburg, so that was fun.

I worked as a waitress and then at a newspaper. Later I went to Japan on a mission for my church and loved it so much I went back later when not a missionary to teach English and believe it or not, aerobics! Oh the days of being young and thin!

After returning from working in Japan I had my first child, Alexa, (far right in the photo, age 22)returned to college and earned my Bachelors' Degree in Sociology. With degree in hand I set off to right the wrongs of society but was sidetracked with cancer. I spent a year undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, and then got back on track for saving society. I also got married to my husband, Jeff, seen above in the photo. We had four children together, (as pictured) Max 13, Riley 9, Zoey 15, Eli 7.

I've had some pretty great jobs, but eventually found that the jobs I wanted to move on to required a Master's Degree, so at the age of 40 and after the birth of my last child, I returned to college and earned my MSW. For the next several years I worked as the Director of a Child Abuse Center, a field I told myself I would never work in. I lasted two and a half times longer than any previous director, but hung up my blue ribbon last month (January) and am enjoying some time off while I contemplate my next move.

Can't wait to see you all at the reunion this summer!
(See older posts for more info)

Ya'll Come Back Now, Ya Hear!

Guess what? The Powder Valley Class of 1979 is getting old. In fact, we are turning the big 50 this year. That calls for a celebration!

Mark your calendars and plan to head this way for the Huckleberry Festival and Class of '79 Turns 50 Reunion, July 23, 24, and 25th, 2010.

For those of us in the area Friday evening we'll have a BBQ and get together. Saturday will start with a breakfast at the School as part of the all school reunion. We'll participate in the Huckleberry Festival festivities, including having a 'float' in the parade! That evening we'll enjoy a picnic of sorts and see what else we can shake up by way of entertainment. I'm not sure what the Festival schedule is yet, whether there is a street dance that evening or what.

But for sure you're bound to see some old familiar faces from other classes as well, and find plenty of people to visit with. We'll get a firmer schedule together as we go along, but just wanted you to start your summer vacation plans to include a trip back in time! Nothing much has changed about North Powder!