Vernon "Vern" Barton Ryles was born in Walla Walla, Washington, in 1937. Around 1945, his family spent one year in Arkansas, then returned to Washington. A short time later, the family relocated to Portland, Oregon. In 1957, he and Nancy Ann Wyly were married; they later had four children. In 1959, he earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Oregon. He served as president for Poppers Supply Co., a popcorn distribution company in Portland, Oregon. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, he was involved with a variety of government panels and local organizations related to employment and development. He served on the Central Eastside Industrial Council (1979-1985); was director of the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (1986-1991); served on the Workforce Quality Council for the State of Oregon (1991-1994); and served on the Portland Development Commission (1992-1994). He was also the director of Goodwill Industries of Oregon from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1990. He died in 2013.
This oral history interview with Vern B. Ryles was conducted by Michael O'Rourke at Ryles's office in Portland, Oregon, from June 2, 1994 to February 23, 1995, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. The interview was conducted in seven sessions.
In sessions one and two, Ryles discusses his family background and early life in Walla Walla, Washington, his relationship with his father, and his marriage to Nancy Wyly. He talks about working for a trucking company in Chicago, Illinois, during the time that Jimmy Hoffa ran the Teamsters Union.
In sessions three through five, Ryles shares his thoughts about the economic and social factors behind the increase in homelessness, particularly in Oregon, in the late 20th century. He talks about his work as a member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to provide social services to people experiencing homelessness in Portland, discusses Portland Mayor Bud Clark's 12-point plan to address homelessness, and talks about the development of the Homeless Action Fund.
In sessions six and seven, Ryles reflects on the accomplishments of Portland's programs for homeless services. He then speaks at length about Nancy Ryles' service on the Beaverton school board; representing Washington County in the Oregon House from 1979 to 1982, and in the Oregon Senate from 1983 to 1987; and as a member of the Public Utility Commission from 1987 until her death in 1990. He talks about his marriage to Nancy Ryles, and about her death from cancer.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA,
Oral history interview with Vern B. Ryles, by Michael O'Rourke, SR 2048, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
An incomplete transcript (248 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
In the first interview session, conducted on June 2, 1994, Ryles discusses his family background and early life in Walla Walla, Washington, and speaks at length about growing up in a large extended family. He talks about spending a year in Arkansas around 1945, about his father's business as a tavern owner in Pomeroy, Washington, and about how that led Ryles to live with relatives for a year at around 10 years old. He then shares his memories of growing up near the Hanford site, talks about spending summers working on relatives' farms, including a plantation, and shares his memories of observing segregation while living in Arkansas. He discusses his relationship with his father.
In the second interview session, conducted on June 6, 1994, Ryles discusses his high school experience in Portland. He talks about his marriage to Nancy Wyly, about her family background, and about her political career. He also talks about their children. He then discusses working for a trucking company in Chicago, Illinois, and talks about corruption during the time that Jimmy Hoffa ran the Teamsters Union. He shares his reasons for returning to Portland in the 1960s and taking over Poppers Supply, Co., a popcorn distribution company, and speaks about growing the business. He also briefly talks about his college experiences.
In the third interview session, conducted on August 9, 1994, Ryles shares his thoughts about economic and social factors behind the increase in houselessness, particularly in Oregon, in the late 20th century. He talks about his work as a member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to provide social services to people experiencing homelessness in Portland, discusses Portland Mayor Bud Clark's 12-point plan to address homelessness, and talks about the development of the Homeless Action Fund. He also talks about controversies surrounding the Baloney Joe's shelter and its director, Michael Stoops. He speaks at length about his work to get Portland businesses to sign on to Clark's plan.
In the fourth interview session, conducted on August 17, 1994, Ryles further discusses his thoughts about economic and social factors behind the increase in homelessness, his work as a member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to provide social services to to people experiencing homelessness in Portland, and his involvement with Mayor Bud Clark's plan to address homelessness. He reflects on the accomplishments of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce during the 1980s. He speaks about working with people on the Portland Development Commission and the Housing Authority to develop transitional and low income housing in downtown Portland. He talks about working to establish community mental health services, and about raising money for the Homeless Action Fund.
In the fifth interview session, conducted on August 24, 1994, Ryles continues to discuss his work as a member of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to provide social services to people experiencing homelessness in Portland, and his involvement with Mayor Bud Clark's plan to address homelessness. He speaks further about fundraising for the Homeless Action Fund, talks about the organizations that contributed to the fund, and discusses other organizations that provided services to unhoused people. He speaks further about working to develop transitional and low income housing in downtown Portland, and also talks about various shelters in the city.
In the sixth interview session, conducted on October 26, 1994, Ryles reflects on the accomplishments of Portland's programs for homeless services. He revisits the topic of economic and social factors behind the increase in homelessness, and shares ideas on how to prevent people from falling into poverty and to improve Oregon's economic resilience. He then speaks at length about Nancy Ryles' service on the Beaverton school board; representing Washington County in the Oregon House from 1979 to 1982, and in the Oregon Senate from 1983 to 1987; and as a member of the Public Utility Commission from 1987 until her death in 1990.
In the seventh and final interview session, conducted on February 23, 1995, Ryles continues to discuss Nancy Ryles' career in public service. He talks about working with Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt on the Central Eastside Industrial Council and about the council's efforts to improve the industrial district of East Portland. He also discusses the right-wing rhetoric by radio personalities at the time of the interview. He talks about his marriage to Nancy Ryles, and about her death from cancer in 1990. He closes the interview by discussing doing volunteer work in hospitals around the world, particularly Kenya, and by reflecting on his work to provide services to unhoused people.