Medical Lake's 'Godfather'

Talk to relatives and others who, over the past 50-plus years, knew and worked with Howard Jorgenson and "shy" or "reserved" would not be words that come to mind when describing this iconic community figure.

But that's how Medical Lake High School's current athletics director, Chris Spring, described his first encounter with Jorgenson, who passed away May 2 at age 76.

"It was a unique beginning of a relationship with him," Spring said, who was hired as baseball coach at Medical Lake in 1998.

Jorgenson had a passion for softball and baseball, Spring said. "How I met him (was) this maroon (Chevrolet) Impala was frequenting my practices; it would just sit right behind the backstop."

That happened every day, Spring said. "Same bat time, same bat place." Pretty soon curiosity got the better of him, so Spring decided to find out who this person was behind the wheel. Jorgenson was simply concerned about the direction the program might take following the retirement of legendary coach Gary Glasgow, Spring said.

"I say 'How you doing, I see your car here all the time,'" Spring said. "I'm Howard Jorgenson, I've heard a lot about you," Jorgenson said and told the new coach he liked what he saw before asking, "Do you need anything?"

That was the start of a long friendship that has paid dividends to Medical Lake baseball. But years before they met, the whole community was benefitting from Jorgenson's generous donation of his time.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is legendary," Spring said describing Jorgenson. "The second thing that comes to my mind is the 'Godfather of Medical Lake."

Jorgenson will be remembered in a public celebration of life next Saturday, June 11 at 1 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. And what a life it was, spent dedicated to giving back to his family and a community that extended well beyond his adopted hometown of Medical Lake.

Born July 26, 1939 in Valley City, N.D. "Jorgie" graduated from Everett High School in 1957 and attended Washington State University, studying civil engineering for a short time. He also served four years of active duty and two in the reserves in the U.S. Air Force, eventually settling in Medical Lake in 1967. Jorgenson worked 35 years at Eastern State Hospital as a hospital attendant and a heavy equipment operator and supervisor.

In his time at ESH, Jorgenson became active in his union, the Washington Federation of State Employees where he served as president for 25 years. That started a long career serving with both state and national public employee labor unions, as well as numerous other appointments.

Among his many community involvements in Medical Lake were multiple terms as a member of the City Council. Medical Lake Mayor John Higgins knew Jorgenson for 50 years. "We both worked up at Eastern (State Hospital)," Higgins said.

"You couldn't get any more civic-minded than Howard," Higgins said. The money Jorgenson made on the Council never made it into his bank account, Higgins said. "It all went straight to Dollars for Scholars. That was pretty close to $30,000 I'd guess."

"He was just 'Mr. Cardinal' in terms of supporting all of our programs," former Medical Lake High School principal, Russ Brown said. "Not just athletics, but activities."

Jorgenson was the founder of the Medical Lake Booster Club, Brown said. "He worked it tirelessly." Jorgenson's involvement was not limited to fundraising, Brown added. "He was a committee member on our levy and bond issues."

If there was one standout example of Jorgenson's "Midas Touch," it would likely be the Booster Club.

"It was started for American Legion baseball," Jorgenson's son David Jorgenson explained. "They turned it into this mega organization and that was dad." The booster club went from raising $5,000 a year to $25,000, Spring said. "He just had great ideas and everyone followed his lead."

The organization helped with virtually any need students in Medical Lake had. "If kids needed athletic shoes, Jorgenson would peel off $100 and give it to the coach," Higgins said.

"Jorgie was one the community could always count on to help with programs for our youth of Medical Lake," former longtime tennis coach Leroy Lemaster said. Jorgenson did things in a quiet way, "He wasn't a guy going around town bragging how great he was," Lemaster added.

David Jorgenson, step-daughter Meaghan Rasmussen and Jorgenson's wife, Marye Jorgenson recently shared memories and thoughts about a man who always had a sense of serving.

The union job took its toll in time away, but Jorgenson was always there for the sports, his son said. "It was always what he could do for other people," David Jorgenson said.

"As a family you kind of accepted that," David Jorgenson said. Over the years he had a lot of time to think about sharing his father. "He loved you, and you were special, but you also knew he loved everybody else, too."

That revelation drew a collective laugh.

"You weren't getting a lot more (love and attention) than everybody else was getting, because that was just him," David Jorgenson said. As a kid that was hard to deal with, but everyone survived. "None of us are failures in life," Rasmussen added.

And nothing ever came free, Rasmussen said. "You just couldn't have $20 to go to the movies, you had to dust his knick-knacks, rake up all the pine needles or shovel the snow."

Jorgenson did not do a lot of things for himself, his son said.

He made enough money to where he could have lived an extravagant life, David Jorgenson said. "He was hell-bent on just giving everything away," a statement that again drew chuckles.

If Jorgenson was not making sure everyone had bought a pocketful of raffle tickets, he was rounding up the prizes for the giveaway, his wife, Marye Jorgenson said.

Every Dollars for Scholars garage sale involved his family, his friends from the 114 Bar and Grill and many others who all lent a hand - and a strong back hauling stuff, the family said. "You couldn't say no to him," David Jorgenson said.

Sometimes you never knew you were involved.

"I was the secretary for the Medical Lake Booster Club for two years," Rasmussen said. She found out she was appointed to the job from a person in the community. Some call it being "volun-told."

Jorgenson would walk into the Pizza Factory and throw books of tickets on the tables. "People would just fill 'em out and give him money," David Jorgenson said. He never gave anyone a chance to say no.

Despite his hard-sell attitude when it came to being Medical Lake's biggest booster, Jorgenson endeared himself to his community, and well beyond.

When word of his death spread throughout his many circles, the cards and letters came in. What was being said about him locally was also the topic of messages from across the United States and spanning the oceans as well, Marye Jorgenson said.

Jorgenson's father was 62 when he died of diabetes, the same disease that took his son.

"I think in my heart of hearts the man upstairs said 'I need him to do these good works and work with my children and grandchildren,'" keeping him around longer, Marye Jorgenson said. This despite being in constant pain, she added.

Of his huge extended family, David Jorgenson said. "I have 4,000 cousins running around here."

Howard Jorgenson Celebration of Life

Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 1 p.m. Medical Lake High School 200 E. Barker St., Medical Lake, Wash.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].