Victor Atiyeh

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Vic Atiyeh

|image = Victor Atiyeh in 1986 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Atiyeh in 1986

|order = 32nd

|office = Governor of Oregon

|term_start = January 8, 1979

|term_end = January 12, 1987

|predecessor = Bob Straub

|successor = Neil Goldschmidt

|office1 = Member of the Oregon State Senate
from the 9th district

|term_start1 = 1965

|term_end1 = 1978

|office2 = Member of the
Oregon House of Representatives
from Washington County

|term_start2 = 1959

|term_end2 = 1964

|birth_name = Victor George Atiyeh

|birth_date = {{birth date|1923|02|20}}

|birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2014|07|20|1923|02|20}}

|death_place = West Haven-Sylvan, Oregon, U.S.

|restingplace = River View Cemetery

|spouse = {{marriage|Dolores Hewitt|1944}}

|children = 2

|party = Republican

|education = University of Oregon

}}

Victor George Atiyeh ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|t|iː|j|ə}}; February 20, 1923 – July 20, 2014) was an American politician who served as the 32nd governor of Oregon from 1979 to 1987. He was also the first elected governor of Middle Eastern descent and of Syrian descent in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2005sjr0024ses.html|title=Senate Joint Resolution 24: Oregon Laws 2005|publisher=Oregon Legislature|date=August 3, 2005|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212132558/http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2005sjr0024ses.html|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|first1=Philip|last1=Harsham|first2=Robert|last2=Azzi|url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197502/arabs.in.america-the.native.sons.htm|title=Arabs in America: The Native Sons|journal=Saudi Aramco World|date=March–April 1975|volume=6|number=2|access-date=September 8, 2007|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183755/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197502/arabs.in.america-the.native.sons.htm|url-status=live}}

Atiyeh was elected in 1978, defeating incumbent Democratic governor Robert W. Straub. He was re-elected against future governor Ted Kulongoski with 61.6% of the vote in 1982, the largest margin in 32 years. Prior to being elected governor, Atiyeh had served continuously in the Oregon legislature since 1959, initially in the House and later in the Senate.

As of {{year}}, Atiyeh is the most recent Republican to have held the office of Governor of Oregon to date.{{Cite web |title=Oregon |url=https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=National Governors Association |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421015951/https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/ |url-status=live }}

Early life

Atiyeh's parents, George Atiyeh and Linda Asly, immigrated to the United States from Amar al-Husn, Syria, and Beirut, Lebanon, respectively.{{Cite book|last=Pulera|first=Dominic|year=2004|title=Sharing the Dream: White Males in Multicultural America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Victor+Atiyeh+Beirut&pg=PA33|url-status=live|page=33|publisher=A&C Black |isbn=9780826416438|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806071019/https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Victor+Atiyeh+Beirut&pg=PA33}}{{Cite web|title=The Atiyeh Brothers and Portland's Royal Rosarians|url=https://www.royalrosarians.com/page/historic-relationship-atiyeh-brothers|url-status=live|website=Royal Rosarians|access-date=June 1, 2021|archive-date=June 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616134847/https://royalrosarians.com/page/historic-relationship-atiyeh-brothers}} Atiyeh's father came through Ellis Island in 1898 to join his brother Aziz's carpet business. Atiyeh's mother's family belonged to the Antiochian Orthodox Church though Atiyeh would join the Episcopal Church later in life.{{cite book |last1=Guggemos |first1=Eva |title=Atiyeh! |date=October 3, 2013 |publisher=Pacific University Libraries |url=https://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=mono |access-date=May 31, 2018 |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119091902/https://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=mono |url-status=dead }}

Atiyeh grew up in Portland, Oregon, attending Holladay Grade School and Washington High School.{{cite news|last1=Mapes|first1=Jeff|title=Republican Vic Atiyeh, who guided Oregon through economic upheaval, dies at 91|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html|access-date=July 21, 2014|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=July 20, 2014|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902100323/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html|url-status=live}} He spent two years at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he played guard for the Oregon Ducks football program and became a regional leader in the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx|title=Governor Victor G. Atiyeh's Administration: Biographical Note|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=December 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205014736/https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx|url-status=live}} When his father died, Atiyeh dropped out of college and took over his family's rug and carpet business, Atiyeh Brothers.{{cite web|url=http://atiyehbros.com/about-atiyeh/history/|title=History|publisher=Atiyeh Bros.|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231929/http://atiyehbros.com/about-atiyeh/history/|url-status=dead}}

Career

File:Governor victor atiyeh meeting.jpg, 1980]]

Atiyeh served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives for Washington County from 1959 to 1964 and in the Oregon State Senate for the 9th district from 1965 to 1978.{{cite web|title=Hon. Victor G. Atiyeh|url=http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/atiyeh_victor.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302195525/http://neco.org/awards/recipients/atiyeh_victor.html|archive-date=March 2, 2012|work=Ellis Island Medals of Honor|publisher=NECO, Inc.}}{{Cite web|title=Archives West: Victor Atiyeh Papers, 1958-1996|url=http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv87927|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=archiveswest.orbiscascade.org|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804004726/http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv87927|url-status=live}}

= Governor of Oregon =

In 1974, Atiyeh ran for governor and lost to Democrat Robert W. Straub.{{cite web|title=Governor Victor G. Atiyeh|url=http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm|work=Focus|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=September 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915094310/http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm|url-status=live}} After defeating former governor Tom McCall in the primary, Atiyeh ran against Straub again in the 1978 election, but won this time with 55 percent of the vote. He was the first Arab American to be elected as a U.S. governor.

In 1982, Atiyeh won re-election to a second four-year term, winning 61.4% of the vote over Democrat Ted Kulongoski - the largest victory margin in 32 years for a gubernatorial election in Oregon. Atiyeh carried all 36 counties in the state.

As governor, Atiyeh established new public safety programs for Oregon's traditional fishing and lumber trades. He provided incentives to bring new industries to the state to diversify the economy, including the opening of a trade office in Tokyo, Japan, Oregon's first overseas trade office. He launched a worldwide tourism initiative and worked towards the designation of the Columbia River Gorge as a national scenic preservation area. These efforts earned him the nickname "Trader Vic."{{Cite web |title=Trader Vic · heritage |url=https://heritage.lib.pacificu.edu/s/atiyeh/page/governor-tradervic |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=heritage.lib.pacificu.edu |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123093457/https://heritage.lib.pacificu.edu/s/atiyeh/page/governor-tradervic |url-status=live }} As a result, the international concourse at Portland International Airport is dedicated to him and contains a statue of him. {{cite journal |last=Foss |first=Christopher |date=2017 |title="I wanted Oregon to have something": Governor Victor G. Atiyeh and Oregon-Japan Relations |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5403/oregonhistq.118.3.0338 |journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly |volume=118, No. 3 |issue=Fall 2017 |pages=338-365 |doi=10.5403/oregonhistq.118.3.0338 |access-date=2024-03-03|url-access=subscription }}

Atiyeh helped establish a statewide food bank, which was the nation's first. He also worked to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and signed new laws against the practice. He chaired the Republican Governors Association and was the Republican National Convention's floor leader for President Ronald Reagan in 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/23/us/convention-dallas-republicans-some-republican-governors-fear-reagan-ignoring.html|title=Convention in Dallas: The Republicans; Some Republican Governors Fear Reagan is Ignoring Them|author=Roberts, Steven V.|date=August 23, 1984|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804003618/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/23/us/convention-dallas-republicans-some-republican-governors-fear-reagan-ignoring.html|url-status=live}}

=Volunteer and charitable work=

Atiyeh had a long relationship with Forest Grove-based Pacific University, serving as a trustee and trustee emeritus and accepting an honorary doctorate from the university in 1996. He donated a trove of his memorabilia to the university library in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-forest-grove/2011/05/former_oregon_governor_vic_atiyeh_donates_collection_of_memorabilia_to_pacific_university_library.html|title=Former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh donates collection of memorabilia to Pacific University Library|first=Joe|last=Lang|date=May 25, 2011|work=The Oregonian|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212041845/http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-forest-grove/2011/05/former_oregon_governor_vic_atiyeh_donates_collection_of_memorabilia_to_pacific_university_library.html|url-status=live}}

=Later career=

File:Victor G. Atiyeh 2012.jpg

After leaving office, Atiyeh became an international trade consultant.

In 2006, Atiyeh co-chaired the "Yes on 49" campaign, supporting Ballot Measure 49, along with Democratic former governor Barbara Roberts, former and future governor John Kitzhaber, and then-governor Ted Kulongoski. He solicited a $100,000 donation to the campaign from Phil Knight, CEO of Nike.{{cite news|date=October 6, 2007|title=Nike co-founder backs Measure 49 with $100,000|publisher=KGW|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_100607_news_knight_measure_49.14423cc54.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107133043/http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_100607_news_knight_measure_49.14423cc54.html|archive-date=January 7, 2009}}

Personal life

Atiyeh lived in Portland with his wife, Dolores (née Hewitt), whom he married on July 5, 1944.{{cite web|title=Pacific University Archives Exhibits | * Victor Atiyeh Collection * : Dolores Atiyeh|url=http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|access-date=July 21, 2014|publisher=Exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106050923/http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|url-status=dead}} They had two children, Tom and Suzanne.{{cite web|title=Dolores Atiyeh|url=http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|access-date=December 28, 2013|work=Victor Atiyeh Collection|publisher=Pacific University Archives|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106050923/http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|url-status=dead}} Dolores Atiyeh died on August 29, 2016, in Portland at the age of 92.{{cite news|last1=Theen|first1=Andrew|date=August 29, 2016|title=Dolores Atiyeh, wife of former Oregon governor, dies at 92|work=The Oregonian/OregonLive|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/dolores_atiyeh_wife_of_former.html|access-date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921030443/http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/dolores_atiyeh_wife_of_former.html|url-status=live}}

=Health and death=

On August 31, 2005, Atiyeh underwent quadruple bypass surgery; he drove himself to St. Vincent Medical Center after suffering chest pains. Atiyeh was noted for his fiscal conservatism; his spokesman noted that he had stopped on his way to the hospital to fill his car with gas, having observed the sharply rising prices. In the weeks following the surgery, Atiyeh was readmitted to the hospital for several brief stays after suffering shortness of breath and pain in his arms.

On July 5, 2014, Atiyeh fell at his home. He was admitted again to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was treated for internal bleeding; while he was briefly released, he was re-hospitalized after incurring an adverse reaction to pain medication, and died from kidney failure on July 20, at age 91.{{cite news|last1=Currie|first1=Carrie McAlice|last2=Staver|first2=Anna |url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2014/07/20/former-oregon-governor-vic-atiyeh-dead/12928255/ |title=Former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh dead at 91 |date=July 21, 2014|newspaper=Statesman Journal |location=Salem, Oregon|access-date=May 15, 2016}}

References

External links

[https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx Records of Governor Victor G. Atiyeh's Administration] (January 8, 1979 - January 12, 1987) from the Oregon State Archives
[http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm Biography] on Oregon Historical Society website
[http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh Victor Atiyeh Collection] of personal papers, Pacific University
[http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html Obituary in The Oregonian]

{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee Governor of Oregon|years=1974, 1978, 1982}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Republican Governors Association|years=1983–1984}}

{{s-aft|after={{nowrap|Neil Goldschmidt}}}}

Category:1923 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:20th-century American Episcopalians

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:20th-century Oregon politicians

Category:Accidental deaths from falls in the United States

Category:Accidental deaths in Oregon

Category:American politicians of Syrian descent

Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent