GEORGE DOUGLAS RIVES
George was born on July 23, 1915 in Pembroke, Kentucky, the middle child of George Pollard Rives and Katherine Graham Rives. He spent his childhood on a farm and in the small town of Pembroke, learning the meaning of hard work. He spent one summer raising his own tobacco crop to help pay for his college expenses. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Kentucky Wesleyan College and his law degree at Yale University, graduating in 1938.

Upon graduation, George was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and joined a small law firm handling transportation and utility rate cases. At the beginning of World War II, he went to work for the Office of Price Administration and then joined the Navy, ultimately serving in the Naval Transport Division in the Pacific Theater. In 1944, while stationed in
Honolulu, George met Claire Thomas on a blind date. They were married on March 9, 1945.

At the end of the war, George resumed his legal career at the law firm of Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison in San Francisco, handling rate cases and securities transactions. In 1963, at the age of 48, he left San Francisco to accept a position as general counsel for Pacific Power and Light (now Pacific Corp.), and joined the law firm of Smith, Rives and Rogers in Portland, Oregon. In 1979 his firm merged with Davies Biggs to form Stoel Rives, then the largest law firm in Portland. He continued as general counsel for Pacific Corp. until his retirement in 1985.

George and Claire spent nearly seventy years together. They had three children, Douglas Graham Rives who died in 1981, Nancy Rives McCann (Andrew), and Helen Rives Pruitt (Charles). George fostered a close relationship with each of his children, encouraging them to develop their full potential. Upon his retirement, he spent time enjoying activities with his six grandchildren,
Elizabeth McCann, Geoffrey Hendricks (Roxana), Graydon Davis (Sarah), Katherine Hendricks, Douglas McCann and Jacqueline McCann. He maintained close relationships with his brother Robert Rives, his sister-in-law Marian Martinez, and his six nieces and nephews, G.P. Kirk, Susan Denight, Steven Martinez, Ann Nunnemaker, Cynthia Thomas and Laura Martinez and stayed in contact with his many cousins and their families.

Shortly after moving to Portland, George and Claire purchased a farm near Newberg, and with the help of their children, planted a filbert orchard. That orchard is still producing nuts today. George spent much of his retirement working on their farm and enjoying working outdoors again.

George was an active supporter of the Campaign for Equal Justice, CASA and many other charities serving human social needs, justice and the arts. He served on Willamette University’s Board of Trustees and Lewis and Clark Law School’s Board of Visitors. After he retired from his corporate law practice, George provided many hours of free legal services to legal aid clients in Yamhill County.

He was a lifelong learner and was particularly interested in religion, philosophy and ethics. After he moved to Terwilliger Plaza, George taught classes on the Constitution and Bill of Rights and participated regularly in philosophy, religion and current event classes.

George played baseball and basketball in his youth and was a dead-eye free throw shooter in his firm’s olympic games. He took up tennis as an adult and played the sport well into his 80’s. He enjoyed opera, symphonic and chamber music and had a fine bass voice.

George had a strong work ethic, demanding the best of himself and others, and he believed that part of being his best was to use his talents and skills to help others, particularly those who were not as fortunate as he. He lived his philosophy by quietly providing assistance to individuals as well as social service charities throughout his life.