There Are Giants Among Us

By Scott R. Cooper, Crook County Judge
published in the Central Oregonian, June 2004

Gray skies have lain heavily above Crook County more days than not since the week before Memorial Day. Since early June, as flags stood at half-staff in memory of a President departed, rain has fallen on us daily, as if nature itself were shedding tears of sorrow. And well she might, for in addition to the President, our community seems to have given up more than its share of good men these past few weeks.

In close succession, we experienced the loss of long-time residents, businessmen, community leaders and friends: Barr Groff, Joe Stahancyk and Gary Ward—a trio of characters who defined among them the very best of our community.

Newcomers may not have known Barr Groff or his wife Barbara or his son and daughter-in law, Prineville residents Barry and Jacki. No matter if you didn’t know Barr. It’s enough to know that he was a Prineville native, born here in 1929. He was the founder of Barr Groff Trucking started in 1952, the same year Les Schwab began his operations. Barr grew his business hauling wheels from Los Angeles to keep Les’s company supplied with inventory. Barr was also the namesake of a favorite local haunt, Barr’s Café as well as the father and father-in-law of the present owners of the Club Pioneer Club. He was husband for more than 50 years to Barbara, a former school board chair and a pillar of Prineville. Perhaps with that short bio, you can understand why the loss of Barr Groff represents more than just the loss of a man, but also the loss of a piece of our local history.

If you didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Joe Stahancyk, you missed another bigger-than-life character. Canadian by birth, Joe might as well have been born in Prineville, having lived here since 1924. A rancher by occupation, support of community was his vocation. He was a county commissioner, chair of the school board, chair of the county fair board and chair of the local Farm Bureau.. He was also chair of Central Oregon Community College board of directors and he was among the founders of Community First Bank, which now has branches throughout Central Oregon. His wife, Bertie, who predeceased him, is remembered by many as one of Prineville’s most gracious ladies, an artist in her own right and a lover of all things beautiful. His daughter, Jodi, now the name partner in the respected Portland law firm of Stahancyk, Gearing, Rackner and Kent, has given generously to many Crook County non-profits. Fittingly, memorials to Joe are being directed to the Boys and Girls Club of Prineville and Crook County Historical Society, continuing into death the element of service that defined Joe’s life.
Crook County Parks and Recreation Director Gary Ward was memorialized last Friday in a well-attended service at the Powell Butte Christian Church where he was remembered as a family man, a beloved neighbor and builder of Prineville’s enviable parks system . Over 16 years, with a budget a fraction of the size of that enjoyed by his peers in other communities, Gary managed to open up numerous park land around Prineville. His projects included Crooked River Park, Les Schwab Fields, the relocated Stryker Field, the newly opened frisbee golf course, Mountain View Park (off Mason Drive), the library park, the county RV park, the revamped Harwood Park and the skate park. Hundreds of Crook County youth began their careers and padded their college funds as lifeguards and summer parks crews under Gary’s watchful eye, while many a future beef cattle rancher got his or her start in Gary’s 4-H Club. For 16 years, he remembered each and every one of these young people, making a point with his lovely and supportive wife Bonnie to attend as many of their graduations and weddings as he possibly good whenever he was invited.
For the better part of my life, these three have been fixtures in the Prineville Community, the dependability of their contributions so predictable that I was as guilty as anyone of simply taking them and their efforts for granted without pausing as often as I should have to thank them for their efforts.
I was remembered of this again last week as, like many citizens, I watched the Reagan funeral. I was stirred once again by images so familiar that have become enshrined in our national heritage: Reagan demanding of the Soviet leader, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” Reagan comforting all of us after the explosion of the Challenger with the reminder that our brave young men and women dared to slip “the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God"; and Reagan urging us on the Beaches of Normandy, “…always remember…always be proud… always be prepared, so we may always be free.”
Ronald Wilson Reagan was a giant of President. Unfortunately, a terrible disease robbed him of the opportunity to see for himself the unfolding of history’s verdict regarding his contributions just as it robbed us of the right to share with him our own appreciation. We wish we could roll back time and share with him our thoughts.
As it is on the national stage, so it is in our local community. How I would like to be able share with Barr, Joe and Gary just how much they meant to Crook County and Prineville. I cannot help but wonder who else, caught up in daily concerns, I may have neglected to thank.
It’s worth remembering: hidden beneath the business of our everyday lives, there are giants among us. We would do well to find them before they fall.