>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Local Shrine Club members honored players and alternates of the 2008 East-West Game, which will be played Aug. 2 in Baker City. Pictured, left to right, are Immediate Past Game Chairman Ralph Patterson; Ben Garnett, player from Joseph High School; Union County Vice President Aaron Rhyne; Travis Ludwig, alternate from Elgin High School; Kent Powell, club secretary; Michael Stephens, player from Powder Valley High School; Outer Guard H.G. “Hank” Stockhoff; and East Team Manager Ken Briggs. - Submitted photo

Twenty-seven Union County Shrine members and their East-West Shrine guests were served a dinner by the Grande Ronde Rainbow Assembly girls at the meeting in Union.

Vice President Aaron Rhyne  introduced the 2008 players and alternates and their families: Michael Stephens, a player from Powder Valley High School, with his parents Sam and Delbert Stephens; Ben Garnett, Joseph High School, and his parents Liz and Randy Garnett along with sister Megan; and Travis Ludwig, an alternate from Elgin High School, and his mother Denise.

Motivational speakers for the evening were past Game Chairman Ralph Patterson, who not only played in the 1954 game representing North Powder, but played with the halftime band during the 1952 and 1953 games; and team managers Hank Stockhoff and Ken Briggs.

Donna Patterson gave the parents an outline of what to expect from the time of player pickup in Wilsonville until the actual game time eight days later. She reminded the boys to continue to be good citizens and  to stay out of trouble.

The East-West Shrine teams’ 60-player camp is at EOU from July 25 until game day in Baker City Aug. 2.