(Welcome back to Thebeerchaser.  Since this is a long post, if you are seeing it through an e-mail, please visit the blog to see all of the photos by clicking on the title above so the narrative is not clipped or shortened.)

Followers of Thebeerchaser blog know that generally, each quarter I try to convey the story of an interesting individual or group – a departure from my usual reviews of bars and breweries. Originally, I posted a Beerchaser-of-the-Month, but that schedule precluded doing justice to each story, so I moved to a Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter (BOQ).

Who are these people and why do I devote space in my blog to the thirty-five individual  “honorees” named during the nine + years I have been authoring Thebeerchaser. The answer is pretty simple.

Throughout my earlier years, during my career and in retirement, I have met (or read about) many fascinating and wonderful people with compelling stories and both notable exploits and accomplishments.  Those I’ve featured may or may not have anything to do with bars or beer. Exploring how to chronicle the BOQ tales has been fun and gratifying.

I’ve known almost all the BOQ’s personally – and in a few cases, such as the late Brian Doyle – a noted NW author, I met them after writing and asking to meet them over a beer – asserting that adding the BOQ entry to their resume would pack the same punch as having a notary-of-the public designation. 

One of my early “honorees”, Princeton Emeritus Professor, Dr. Harry Frankfurt – author of the magnificent treatise, On Bullshit, surprisingly responded to the missive I sent him at the University informing him of this new accolade with the following e-mail:

“Dear Mr. Williams,   First of all, thank you for the honor of naming me the January 12, 2012 Beerchaser of the Quarter.  I have looked at the blog in which you announced my receipt of this distinction, and I was impressed by its wit, its charm, and its erudition. 

Also, I enjoyed the pictures.  I intend to follow your blog regularly.  Anyhow, thanks very much for writing.  Sincerely,  Harry Frankfurt”

Beerchaser followers have sometimes asked for a list of all those I’ve written about.  Although you can access the posts, by clicking on the category at the left side of the blog header above, I haven’t to this point published a complete roster of this disparate group comprising academicians, athletes, authors, clerics, consultants, developers, environmentalists, friends/family, media personalities, military veterans, musicians…..well you get the idea.

And joining these individuals listed below, are four groups – the 1967 Oregon State Giant Killer Football Team, the 1798-99 Crew of the USS Constitution (Unfortunately, none of whom I’ve met!), OSU Football Coach Mike Riley and his 2012 Team and Lawyers, – the latter based on the respect and admiration I gained – for at least most of them – working with these professionals for almost forty years.

Oh yes.  And there is, appropriately, one Beerchaser-of-the-Year (well, actually it should be 40 years).  She has been my life partner since March 29, 1980, but also supported me in the pursuit of this idiosyncratic hobby over the last nine years.  Janet even went so far as switching from her favorite vintage of wine to IPAs on our road trips exploring new watering holes.

The BOQ’s are listed by year below in reverse chronological order ending with Harold Schlumberg – one of the few I have not met, but the first person, I named in 2011 shortly after starting Thebeerchaser.   Yes, in some years, there aren’t four but let’s not get too formal. – this is a hobby!  Before enumerating them below, I thought I’d give you an idea of their memorable exploits by this simple quiz.   The answers are at the end of the post after the list:

1. Who are the father and daughter who both garnered this title in separate posts?
2. What BOQ has the nickname “Godfather?”
3. What BOQ is known as Oregon’s “Beer Goddess?”
4. What family member of Thebeerchaser took a deep dive?
5. Who is the only BOQ whose existence is questionable – not that that’s a bad thing!
6. 

   Vandelay —– Latex  – Really?

   What 2012 BOQ was recently inducted into the State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for two sports and what other BOQ did he join in that organization?
7. What two persons are the only married couple named as co-BOQ for their outstanding long-term environmental work?
8. 

   Sam Holloway with Guinness Master Brewer, Fergal Murray

   Which BOQ is a tenured professor and internationally recognized micro-brewery industry consultant? 
9. Which BOQ was named because of his heroic military service and is also not only an author, but served two terms as Mayor of an historic Oregon City?
10. Which BOQ authored a book known as “the most influential crime novel of the last 50 years” and had an opening line that one author/reviewer described as “….probably the greatest opening line of any book I’ve ever read.” 
11. Which Portland lawyer was named BOQ not only for his legal skills, but helping put Portland State College in the national spotlight during the 1960’s?
12. Who is the BOQ who designed the memorable logo for Thebeerchaser?

You can click on the link over the name of each BOG below if you want to see the narrative and pictures in the original post.  And if you want to suggest an individual worthy of this esteemed title in the future, please leave a comment or e-mail me.

2020

Fr. Chuck Wood	Catholic Priest	12/4/2020
Billy Main	Football player – entrepreneur	5/25/20 – 5/11/20
Lawyers	Lawyers	8/31/2020
Jack and Jan McGowan	Environmentalist – non profit leaders	2/19/2020

2019

John Runkle	Owner – The Dirty Shame Saloon	8/13/2019
Col. Terry “Spike McKinsey – USMC	Marine Aviator and Base Commander	3/26/2019

2018

The 1967 Oregon State Giant Killers	Collegiate Football Team	5/20/2018
Mark Edlen	Developer and Philanthropist	2/7/2018

2017

Fr. Martin Grassel	Benedictine Monk and Benedictine Brewer	7/1/2617
Brain Doyle – Beerchaser Eternal	Author and Humorist	6/9/2017
Amy Faust	Media Personality and Writer	4/11/2017

2016

Dwight Jaynes	Media Personality, Journalist and Writer	13/13/16
Kelly Gronli	Symphonic Musician – Oboist	6/29/2016
Jay Waldron	Attorney, Athlete, Adventurer	3/29/2016

2015

Capt. Rick Williams USN Retired	Military Veteran and Energy Consultant	10/22/2015
Sam Holloway	University Professor and Micro-brew Industry Consultant	8/25/2015
Lisa Morrison	Bar owner, Author, Media Personality	4/9/2015

2014

Jack Faust	Lawyer and Media Personality	9/2/2014
Steve Lawrence	Veteran, Lawyer, Author, Mayor	5/29/2014
Brian Doyle	Author and Humorist	2/24/2014
Art Vandelay	Latex??!!	1/31/2014
Janet Williams	Wife and Outstanding Human Being	1/19/2014

2013

Johnny Brose	Winemaker, Brewer, College Instructor	11/14/2013
Jud Blakely	Veteran, Consultant and Writer	9/16/2013
Doug Bomarito	Veteran and Lawyer	9/16/2013
Jim Westwood	Attorney and Civic Leader	3/28/2013

2012

Forrest Green	Musician, Environmentalist and Counselor	11/4/2012
Mike Riley and the OSU Football Team	Coach and Players	10/23/2012
Craig “The Dude”  Hanneman	Athlete, Executive, Elected Official and Mountain Climber	8/27/2012
John Terry	Historian and Journalist	5/29/2012
Dr. Harry Frankfurt	University Professor and Author	1/6/2012

 

2011

Four Bartenders	Portland Area Mixologists	11/9/2011
James Crumley	Author	9/27/2011
Harold Schlumberg	Retired Chemical Engineer and Philosopher	8/29/2011

Answers to the BOQ Quiz Above

1. Jack and Amy Faust
2. Dwight Jaynes
3. Lisa Morrison
4. Rick Williams – my youngest brother
5. Art Vandelay who has a remarkable resemblance to lawyer, Carson Bowler
6. Craig Hanneman and Dwight Jaynes
7. Jack and Jan McGowan 
8. Dr. Sam Holloway
9. Steve Lawrence
10. James Crumley
11. Jim Westwood
12. Jud Blakely

Cheers and Have a Safe and Joyful Christmas and Holiday Season