releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-remembers-governor-vic-atiyeh-public-memorial-service
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-remembers-governor-vic-atiyeh-public-memorial-service | Greg Walden remembers Governor Vic Atiyeh at public memorial service | 2014-09-03 | 2014 | 2014-09 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden remembers Governor Vic Atiyeh at public memorial service SALEM U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today honored the late Governor Vic Atiyeh as a man who always served, always gave and always cared. Atiyeh served as Oregon's 32nd Governor from 1979-1987, and passed away on July 20 at the age of 91. Walden, who once worked for Atiyeh, is set to speak at a public memorial service this morning at the State Capitol in Salem. For more information on the service, please click here. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is below: Memorial to Governor Victor G. Atiyeh By U.S. Representative Greg Walden (Oregon's 2nd District) (Remarks as Prepared for Delivery) Thank you, Denny. To Dolores and the Atiyeh family, my fellow elected officials, formerly elected officials, citizens of our great state: There are two words one says about a man who always served, always gave and always cared: THANK YOU. Thank you Governor Victor G. Atiyeh for showing generations of others how leadership really works; what leadership really is; and how productive it can be when you care less about who gets the credit and more about getting the job done right for the people, it's amazing what you can accomplish. I was in high school and my Dad was in the Legislature (sat right over there) when I first met Vic and Dolores Atiyeh. My parents hosted a small gathering at our house in Hood River when he was running for governor the first time1974. As I sort of recall, 1974 wasn't exactly a banner year for Republicans. Richard Nixon resigned the presidency three months before the election. President Ford granted him a full, free and absolute pardon two months before the election. And for the only time in his career, Vic lost an election. Let me put Vic's electoral record in better perspective: Vic won 19 of 20 elections (primary and general) over the course of 28 years of public service in Oregon. He was often considered the underdog, especially in his statewide races, underestimated by his opponents and the pundits. I'd worked for the House Republican Leader Roger Martin during the 1977 session and joined his gubernatorial campaign thereafter. Roger and I both learned what it was like to underestimate this low-key, rug merchant from Portlandthis quintessential Boy Scout who wanted to be governor. Tom McCall learned that lesson as well. Brent Walth, in his wonderful book, Fire at Eden's Gate, discusses that race in detail, including the pivotal debate in Eugene on the 28th of April when Roger went after McCall while Vic remained engaged, but politely watched the other two slug it out resulting in a lot of mutual political damage. Atiyeh said later his strategy was to hold their coats during the battle. Nine days before the election, polls showed McCall with a 14-point lead among all Oregonians, and a six point lead among Republicans. But Vic emerged as the competent, if not overly exciting, likeable and capable candidate. The upset victory was an overwhelming win. When everything was said and done, it was Atiyeh who would get 46 percent, McCall 33 percent and Martin 17 percent. When the political dust settled, Vic asked me to come over to his team, which I did to help Denny with communications work. There I saw in Vic Atiyeh a hard-working, honest, respectable, courteous, man who always took the high road. He did not shrink from criticism, even condemnation of his opponent's positions and proposals. But he never wanted to say anything bad about his opponent personally. He would rather talk about what he would do differently. He was as old school that way as he was about the short-sleeved white shirts he loved to wear. He rebelled against the political uniform of the day. He disliked suits and long-sleeved shirts. We did get him to occasionally wear a red tie. Just when we thought we had him convinced, staff reported him campaigning in short sleeve shirts again. Campaign manager Carol Whitney, Denny Miles and I used to fantasize about a fictitious burglary at the Senator's house where strangely all that was reported missing were two dozen short sleeved shirts and an ugly camel sport coat. The short-sleeve white shirts gave way to long sleeve white shirts with sleeves rolled upat least until he became Governorand then back came the short sleeves. I think it was the only stylistic change he ever madeand that for only a matter of months. Oregonians were looking for something else in the 1978 electionthey'd been reminded of the flashy, colorful years of McCall, and they weren't happy with things under Governor Straub. I remember our consultant saying one day: Oregonians want oatmeal. And that's what we're going to serve them. No, there's nothing wrong with oatmealstrong in fiber, high in protein, actually healthy for youbut it's not generally how one portrays a candidate. And yet, Vic was oatmeal. Darn good oatmeal. Competent. Effective. And very good for the state. A healthy choice for what Oregonians needed during a very difficult time. Oregonians needed someone who could work across party lines and get things done. And Vic Atiyeh was just that person. In his 28 years of service, Vic was always in the minority, in the House, the Senate and during both terms as Governor. How did he do so well in working across party lines? He knew it could work and he had learned how to do it. He had personal respect for others and never thought of them as "the enemy."I would guess that as a rug salesman, he looked at every one as a potential customer. And he would go to work trying to close the sale. He was criticized by some for routinely traveling to the far corners of the state for events like county fairs and service club meetings. He didn't see it as campaigning, he saw it as "a responsibility of being governor. People deserve to see and talk with their governor." Somehow, he broke free of his Salem office. Because of this interaction, he knew what Oregonians wanted and needed. He knew how they really felt about the issues and he knew of their concerns. Especially important for those of us from small rural towns, he connected and we knew we had a voice, a friend. He came. He cared. In his toughest election (1982 general) some Oregonians might have thought twice about voting for him (because of the terrible economy), but many of them had met him, had talked with him personally and understood he was working hard on their behalf. They voted for him in a big way. Vic was genuine, honest. He lived the Scout Oath. Many Boy Scouts (including Vic Atiyeh) were given a good deed coin when they joined. The instructions on one side said, secretly transfer me to your right pocket each day after your good turn has been done. I'm told he had a coin and he often did exactly that. I learned a lot from Vic Atiyeh. When I ran for Congress, he made sure I reached out to the leaders of the Oregon Tribes, for whom he had such fondness. He gave me counsel and advice and support. When issues of the Middle East would arise, he made sure to remind me of his own heritage: this first U.S. Governor of Arab descent, and the importance of hearing from all sides. You gained a sense of balance from Vic. A sense of fairness permeated everything he did, even if it wasn't always popular, you knew he was right. It was a strength he had. When Gov. Atiyeh took office for his second term, capping decades of public service, he had this to say in his Second Inaugural Address: When our efforts are history; when others have taken our place; our achievements can be measured only by the legacy we leave. I pray that those who follow us will examine our work and share in full measure the motivation for all we do: deep humility, honorable service, and fierce pride. Humility for the bounty that is ours; service to the citizens we represent; and pride in the great state we serve. Our feeling is shared, in good times and bad, by every citizen...I know that our citizens and each one of us can stand anywhere in the world and count it a matter of special pride to say: I am an Oregonian.' As anEagle Scout, I can attest that Vic has left his campsiteour great statefar better than he found it. He has made us all the more proud to say: We are Oregonians. Thank you, Vic Atiyehfor serving, for sharing, for soldiering Oregon ahead. You served us well. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |