Embedded Files
Homer Hester attended Pacific Academy and then attended Pacific College from 1926-1929. Olive Kendall, whom Homer married in 1930, attended Pacific Academy and then Pacific College from 1925-1928. She took continuing classes in 1933-1934 and 1954-1955. Both Homer and Olive participated in freshmen initiation, a tradition that lasted up until the 1970s and included a week filled with activities and duties created by the sophomore class to help welcome freshmen to campus. Some of the typical activities sophomores would plan for freshmen initiation included blindfolded walks in the canyon at midnight, milk drinking and food eating games, shoe shining for upperclassmen, and pranks.
One tradition that remained the same throughout the years was wearing the freshman beanie. Upon arrival to campus, it was customary a freshmen, also known as “frosh babies” or “scrubs,” to purchase felt beanies so that they would be easily identifiable. Freshmen initiation lasted for one week unless the freshman class lost the annual freshmen/sophmore tug-of-war game. If that happened, initiation continued for a second week.
Homer Hester's Green Freshman Armband donated by the Hesters for the class of 1929. There is a matching Green Freshman Beanie.
Olive was a freshman in 1925 when initiates were blindfolded in the Woodmar basement “dungeon,” had their hair “shampooed” with water and flour, and were painted with an green “F” on their foreheads and green on their hands. The girls managed to escape and had to be brought back for the rest of the festivities. The girls learned to tie knots while the boys were tested to see if they could put a pillowcase on a pillow. After being asked to eat red hot beans, hot cocoa and warm buns were served in consolation.
Olive Hester's Class of 1928 Beanie from Pacific College, donated by the Hesters.
Description of photograph (left) from 1980, housed in the George Fox University Archives:
Dr. Homer Hester was a well known and loved member of the Newberg and George Fox community. Hester was a dentist, served multiple terms as mayor of Newberg, and was a major mover in the planning and implementation of the Newberg Community Hospital. Hester was also an active member of the local Friends church. He served as the service technician for Quaker Hour broadcasts. Hester was a long time member of the George Fox Board of Trustees from 1955-1978. Featured here standing.
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