(External Photo Attribution at the end of the post #1)
I have been remiss! Since starting this blog in late 2011, one of the features I’ve both enjoyed and on which I’ve gotten good feedback is my Beerchaser-of-the-Quarter (BOQ) posts.
Followers of Thebeerchaser will remember that these narratives feature individuals or groups which may or may not have anything to do with beer or bars but have a good story and in my humble opinion have made a contribution to society.
Past recipients of this “honor” include veterans (including a number of combat heroes), academicians, athletes, clerics, media personalities and, of course, lawyers. I’ve known the great majority personally and have interviewed many before writing.
For a fairly complete list through 2020, check out the following link: https://thebeerchaser.com/2020/12/13/beerchasers-of-the-quarter-who-what-why/
(The photos below show just a few. Clockwise from left)
Ret. Colonel Terry (Spike) McKinsey USMC, Author Brian Doyle, Fr. Chuck Wood, Duane (Thumper) Barton 1967 OSU Giant Killer Football, Environments Jack and Jan McGowan, 1798 Crew of the US Constitution (Old Ironsides). (#2)
The pandemic precluded my visits to bars and breweries temporarily and for some reason, I stopped naming new BOQs. I’ve at least done some updates, however, such as that in my last post on Little Beast Brewing, which demonstrates why Jack and Amy Faust and Jim Westwood garnered this label initially.
I’ve identified a number of worthy characters for the future, whose stories you would enjoy; however, researching, interviewing and writing once per quarter is a constraint I find a bit daunting – and perhaps interfering with the further exploration of new watering holes.
So I’m changing the title to “Beerchasing Notables.” (no specific timeline for naming them) Now meet my first – Warren C. Easley.
Two Careers
Warren Easley is a Pacific Northwest author who, before taking pen-in-hand to author compelling mystery novels starting in 2012, had a distinguished career as a research scientist and international business executive.
He graduated from UCal-Riverside in Chemistry and earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry from UCal-Berkley. (#3 – #4)
Warren now lives in Aurora, Oregon with his wife, Marge and dog, Archie, where he’s working on his tenth novel. You’ll definitely be interested in how they got to Oregon, but you’ll have to wait until my next post.
A Change of Pace in Authors
Without a hint of apology, I’m a great fan of escapist crime and adventure novels and my list (which I’ve kept on Excel for the last twenty years) is filled with fiction by Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, David Baldacci, James Crumley, etc.
I’ve also read all of the books by former Portland attorney, Phillip Margolin – one of my favorites because the settings for his New York Best-Seller crime novels are predominantly in Portland.
I was looking for a change of pace and happened upon an article in Portland newspaper, Willamette Week, by its former publisher, Richard Meeker.
As an aside, my friendship with Richard goes back to the early 1980’s, when his wife Ellen Rosenblum – now Oregon’s Attorney General – was on the Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar and I worked there as Business Manager. (#5 – #6)
Before the quarterly Board meetings, Richard, four other attorney Board members and I used to have early-morning cut-throat ninety-minute three-on-three basketball games before the meeting commenced.
During a recent lunch, I suggested to Richard that I had a better elbow jumper, but he reminded me of the meeting in Newport, Oregon, where they had to delay my report to the Board while I was delayed in my hotel room vomiting after I overexerted myself. (He maintains it was from trying to guard him…..)
After reading Richard’s April 18, 2023 review in the paper entitled,” The Ninth Book (Fatal Flaw) in Oregon Author Warren C. Easley’s Cal Claxton Series Is a Deeply Plotted and Locally Set Delight.” (#7)
Since I trusted Richard’s judgement on fiction more than his ability to defend a pick-and-roll, I checked out Easley’s first novel at the library. Just as Warren expertly reels in trout on Oregon’s Deschutes River, he had me hooked (barbless) after two chapters.
Meeker states in his review:
“Each is populated with well-known local Portland hangouts, and each captures the flavor of our special place.
The Cal Claxton (his protagonist) mysteries are well plotted with believable, multidimensional characters. They are so good and compelling I plowed through all nine in the past three or four months, in the order in which they were written.” (#8)
And after reading part way through his first novel, Matters of Doubt, I discovered a connection. Notwithstanding his professional career in science and technology, Warren has an excellent grasp on what it’s like to practice law.
The Setting
A family tragedy results in Cal Claxton moving to Oregon where he sets up a solo-practice after being a hot-shot prosecutor in LA. Claxton’s new office and historical home are in the beautiful hills overlooking the rural community of Dundee (population 3,238).
It’s located in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country – about twenty-five miles from Portland. He also has a small office where he does pro-bono work in downtown Portland. (#9)
A sole practitioner’s existence is far different than that of a 150 lawyer Northwest regional law firm (Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt) with five offices, that I helped manage.
Author Easley, however, has an accurate understanding of legal ethics issues such as conflicts, billing practices, pro-bono representation and the constant pressure lawyers face balancing a consuming professional routine with a balanced life outside the office.
This perspective and his reference to many local points of interest in Portland and the Northwest made it compelling for me.
A Further Connection?
Further piquing my interest, Dundee – on Highway 18 on the way to the Oregon Coast – is also home of Lumpy’s Landing – one of my favorite bars and one of two dives at which the idea for my Beerchasing journey germinated shortly before my retirement – the other being the Stanley Rod and Gun Whitewater Saloon (in Idaho)
A Dundee Classic
Reaching Out
Warren Easley gives his e-mail address on his excellent website (Warreneasley.com) so although realizing there was a good chance that he wouldn’t respond, I still sent a missive inviting him to have a beer.
He and his wife had recently moved to Aurora – about halfway between Portland and Salem, and we agreed to meet for a brewski at the Aurora Colony Pub. I love watering holes in old historic buildings and the Pub is a perfect example:
“The building dates back to the 1930’s…originally home to a grocery store, then a barber shop, followed by a small tavern. You will find the original meat locker door in the middle of the main bar seating area which is still keeping our kegs and bottles of beer cold.
The pub is authentic with its sloping concrete floors, tin roof and old American atmosphere.”
This July, 2024 Yelp review portrayed it accurately:
“Looking for a stiff drink, the coldest beer in town, or a great meal? The colony pub has you covered.”
We didn’t order food, but looking at the menu where breakfast is served until noon, and reasonably-priced periodic specials include chicken-fried steak, taco bowls and an outstanding looking Reuben-burger with a “slow-roasted prime rib dinner” on Saturday for ($22.99) I vowed a return trip.
The tap list wasn’t robust but suited us fine as did the free popcorn – a fixture which is seen at fewer and fewer watering holes. (#10 – #12)
Warren and I had an excellent chat over beers. Since he mentions local Dundee businesses and eateries – some fictitious such as “Bake My Day”.” (Actual bakeries in London, GoldendaIe, WA and Mobile Alabama…..) – I asked him if he had ever raised a mug at Lumpy’s.
When he responded in the negative, I strongly suggested that we have a follow-up to complete my interview at this great dive – known for signs outside the entrance which state, “Our beer is a cold as your exe’s heart.”
Stay tuned for the whole story!
I was happy that Warren agreed and stay tuned for my next post in which I relate his interesting background and the details of his double career that I gleaned over beers at both the Aurora Colony Pub and Lumpy’s Landing.
Cheers
External Photo Attribution
#1. Willamette Week (The Ninth Book in Oregon Author Warren C. Easley’s Cal Claxton Series Is a Deeply Plotted and Locally Set Delight (wweek.com).
#2. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:The USS Constitution by C. Myron Clark.jpg – Wikimedia Commons) This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. Author: C. Myron Clark – 1876 – 1925.
#3. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:University of California, Riverside logo.svg – Wikimedia Commons) This image of simple geometry is ineligible for copyright and therefore in the public domain, because it consists entirely of information that is common property and contains no original authorship. Author: University of California, Riverside – 12 August 2015.
#4. Public Domain – Wikimedia Commons (File:Seal of University of California, Berkeley.svg – Wikimedia Commons) This work is based on a work in the public domain. It has been digitally enhanced and/or modified. This derivative work has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its author, Casecrer. This applies worldwide. Author: University of California, Berkeley – 2014.
#5. Willamette Week (WNN – Willamette Week – Interviews (whoneedsnewspapers.org).
#6. Oregon Department of Justice (Ellen F. Rosenblum, Attorney General – Oregon Department of Justice : Media (state.or.us).
#7. (Warren C. Easley – Author of the (warreneasley.com).
#8. (Warren C. Easley – Author of the (warreneasley.com).
#9. Wikimedia Commons (File:Willamette Valley Wine Country (25134584933).jpg – Wikimedia Commons) Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Author: Sheila Sund – 30 August 2015.
#10 – #12. Aurora Colony Pub Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=461267196004801&set=a.461267156004805).
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