Fred and Phyllis Arnst named parade grand marshals for EOU Homecoming

Fred and Phyllis Arnst will lead Eastern’s homecoming parade that begins Friday, 4:30 p.m., and runs along Adams Avenue. Submitted photo

EOU will honor Fred and Phyllis Arnst of La Grande as grand marshals for the 2009 event.

The parade begins at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Hemlock Street and Adams Avenue and will proceed down Adams to Fourth Street.

Fred began his career in Montana and later moved to Wallowa. As a teacher in the small high school he received a National Science Foundation grant to pursue his master’s degree at Humboldt State University.

After six years in Wallowa, Fred moved to La Grande where he taught science and biology at the middle school for two years and at the high school for 22 years. For 18 of those 22 years he also served as the assistant wrestling coach and was on the staff of the Oregon Wrestling Exchange Team that traveled to South Korea.

Fred was a cooperating teacher for EOU and opened his classroom to student teachers every year he worked at LHS.

During Phyllis’ employment at EOU she worked in four campus departments under three university presidents. EOU’s name also changed three times during her tenure. She recalls all the transition with a sense of humor.

“I started working at a college but retired from a university,” she said.

Phyllis worked in the business office, English department and humanities division. But most of her time was spent in the physical education, health and athletic department.

“I like to joke with former student-athletes, telling them the reason I remember their name is because they had an injury and needed to file an insurance claim in my office,” Phyllis said.

In 1993, Phyllis received an award for meritorious service from the NAIA District II, EOU’s athletic affiliation.

The Arnsts’ involvement in the community is a team effort that extends to many organizations.

Fred coordinates the Bikes for Books program for elementary schools in La Grande and Imbler, is an active member and officer in the La Grande Masonic Lodge and volunteers at the Union County food bank.

Fred’s love of sports often finds him officiating at football games and serving as a starter for track meets for the high school and the university. He was also the director of the LHS Muilenburg Wrestling Tournament for more than 20 years.

In the same spirit of service, Phyllis volunteers for the Friday Backpack program,which provides donated food to grade school children from low-income families. She is a member and officer in P.E.O., a philanthropic organization supporting women’s education.

The Arnsts own and operate several rental homes in the area, and in 2001 Phyllis was named “rental owner of the year” by the local rental owners association.

“We have raised our family, worked and lived in La Grande for 41 years and have enjoyed our careers in education,” Fred said. “EOU has expanded our horizons with educational classes and entertainment with the many musical and theatrical productions, college sports which we enjoy watching and supporting, and all the other benefits from living in a town with a university.”

Since they first met as students at Rocky Mountain College 53 years ago, Fred and Phyllis have seen a daughter and two grandchildren graduate from EOU. Needless to say, they can’t help but feel a bit of mixed loyalty when Rocky Mountain plays the Mountaineers.