Former City Councilor Named Among '35 Innovators Under 35'

Molalla Pioneer
By: Bethany Monroe
Published: 2/22/2010 9:42:46 PM

Former Molalla City Councilor Ryan Morgan is among the 35 individuals who will be honored next month by 1,000 Friends of Oregon, a nonprofit agency that advocates for sound land use planning.

Morgan, who died at age 31 in a kayaking accident last August, was an avid outdoorsman heavily involved in the community through his work with local government and at-risk youth.

In honor of their 35th year, 1,000 Friends of Oregon decided to recognize "35 Innovators Under 35," said Eric Stachon, communications director for 1,000 Friends. They solicited nominations and received more than 250 names. Of those names, some were over age 35 or did not meet other qualifications, but in the end they selected their 35 winners from a list of 132 qualifiers.

" They had to be folks who represented the spirit of involvement in the community," Stachon said. "It wasn't solely on land use related issues by any stretch."

Charlie Swindells, a board member for 1,000 Friends, nominated Morgan for the honor.

Morgan was employed through Todos Juntos, a nonprofit youth intervention and prevention program, and worked with the Clackamas County Juvenile Department, the Bureau of Land Management, Molalla RiverWatch and other organizations to provide youth with work opportunities. Last summer, he led youth on improvement projects in the Molalla River Corridor and Ivor Davies Park.

Morgan was also a Molalla High School track coach, a volunteer for Molalla Weed and Seed and he helped start the Unidos Club, a service group for Latino students at Molalla High School.

"You just look at what Ryan accomplished during his short period of time on this planet," Stachon said. "He was a natural."

The 35 Innovators Under 35 will be honored at the Tom McCall Legacy Dinner and Awards Gala on March 20. The event will also honor Henry Richmond, the lawyer who founded 1,000 Friends 35 years ago at the age of 32, Stachon said.

For a complete list of the 35 individuals selected for the honor, visit www.friends.org.