Steve moved to Medford in April 1944 at the age of four and grew up just four houses west of Jackson Elementary School. He attend­ed Jackson School, McLoughlin Junior High, and graduated from Medford Senior High on Oakdale in 1957. Steve began his involvement in district competitive athletics as a student in fourth grade and continued through graduation. During those years, he played football, basketball, baseball, and track. Upon completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SOU, Steve taught and coached at Eagle Point Jr. High and was an elementary principal in Central Point. After a brief absence from the Medford area to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Oregon and work as a school administrator in Bremerton, Washington and Lebanon, Oregon, Steve returned to Medford in 1985 where he served the next 18 years as superintendent of schools. He was the second most tenured superintendent in the district’s history.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Directed the refurbishing of the Spiegelberg Stadium area including paint and grounds improvements.
• Provided leadership for the transition of the school district from a mid-high/senior high school organization to two senior highs
• Completed a South High remodel including the construction of the gymnasium facility.
• Worked with the local YMCA in making elementary sports available to students after they had been eliminated.
• Assisted the Rogue Valley Soccer Assoc. and Medford in funding the development of Fichtner Mainwaring Soccer Fields which South High would call its home field.
• Chaired the YMCA Capital Campaign which financed the construction of the pool used by North and South swim teams.
• Negotiated with the district’s transportation contractor for two bus coaches to be used on long trips and during inclement weather.
• Assisted in the development of soccer fields at North High School.
• Worked with members of Linebackers, Bob Newland, Bill Bowerman, and district staff to finance and construct an all-weather track at Spiegelberg Stadium and refurbish the football field.
• Lead the district in the financing and construction of six lane all-weather tracks at Hedrick and McLoughlin Middle Schools to fulfill South High student Tyler Hoflbuhr’s senior project.
• Represented the region for five years on the Oregon School Activities Association board of directors and delegate assembly and one year on the National Federation of High School Athletics board of directors.
• Worked with District Athletic Director Bruce Howell, and Pete Belcastro, and Joe Brett from Table Rock Sports in the develop­ment of an agreement to provide radio coverage of Medford sports while generating revenue for district sports programs.
• Provided district financial support for athletic programs without a “pay to play” provision.