(As told to Alan Mitchell by Leon White)

We are excited to announce that Leon’s Recollections have been made into a book in honor of his 85th birthday this year. Special thanks to his friends Alan and Brenda Mitchell who wanted to create something special for the occasion. Below is the cover of the first edition that was just released in November 2022:

The book is the first in a series to highlight people of Port Orford who have made a difference in the community. The Mitchells are interested in helping others create similar books. Contact the Port Orford Historical Photos Project for more details.

Below are the chapters on the web linking to additional content and comments from readers:

Chapters —

  1. Port Orford’s Bicentennial Mayor – 1972-1976
  2. The Old Port Orford Grade School
  3. Port Orford’s Western States Plywood Cooperative Era — 1951-1975
  4. The Club Building (Point.B Studio)
  5. Port Orford and its Fires — 1930s-60s
  6. Port Orford’s WWII Era – 1941-1945
  7. The Colonial Theatre
  8. Leon Remembers The Wooden Nickel

On The Front Cover —

ON THE FRONT COVER: Leon and his classmates, c1954. He was in high school when this photograph was taken. Can you find him in the photo? (do not read the next paragraph if you want to figure it out).

Top row L-R: Courtney Horner; Daniel Montague; Kenneth Hensley; Earl Anderson; Unknown; Leon White; Nancy McGowan; Unknown; Dee Sutfin; Norma Dean; and Wanda Nodine. Bottom row: L-R: Sandra Boice; Donald Coyne; Della Pense; and Lincoln Sargenti. (Courtesy of The Cape Blanco Heritage Society / Masterson Collection)

More Photos from The Back Cover —

TOP RIGHT: Leon White holds a photograph of Gilbert Gable during the Gable Council Chambers Dedication in November 1975 with Bob Gable, Gilbert Gable’s son.


TOP LEFT: Alan Mitchell, Leon White and Ray Reinke.


BOTTOM: The Gable Family pictured with Leon White and Brenda and Alan Mitchell.

You can see many more photos from the Gilbert Gable Council Chamber Dedication in our Port Orford Historical Photos Archive.

Bibliography —

Samurai in the Oregon Sky, by Ilana Sol

On Paper Wings, by Ilana Sol

I Bombed The U.S.A., U.S. Naval Institute

Japanese Submarine I-25, Wikipedia

War on the West Coast, Warfare History Network

Fujita, Flying Samurai, by Bert Webber

Silent Siege: Japanese Attacks Against North America in World War II, by Bert Webber

Port Orford: A History, by Patrick Masterson

Port Orford and North Curry County, by Shirley Nelson

Available for Download

“Eugene Leon White: Port Orford’s Bicentennial Mayor” is now available for download in its entirety from our website. Bear in mind that our web pages associated with this book will be slightly more up-to-date than our print edition until the next release date. Enjoy!

“Eugene Leon White: Port Orford’s Bicentennial Mayor” (First Edition – Release Date: November 2022)Download