John Jack Merchant

John "Jack" Merchant

Merchant was an all-around outstanding track and field athlete who graduated from Marshfield in 1917 and went on to participate in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.In 1920, he set an intercollegiate record in the hammer throw while participating for the University of California and also set the Pacific Coast Conference record in the broadjump.He was the high-point winner at the Western Olympic Tryouts in California.In 1922, Merchant won two Intercollegiate Athletic Association of America track titles (shot put and hammer throw) helping California win its first NCAA championship in any sport, and was named the "greatest all-around athlete in the United States."He competed in the hammer throw in the 1924 Olympics and appeared ready to qualify for another Olympic team four years later, but had a bad day at the Olympic trials.He stayed involved after his competitive career, officiating local, national and international meets.He died in 1972.

C. Wylie Smith

Smith graduated from Everett High School in 1927 and Washington State College in 1933 before coming to Coos Bay, where he was manager of the Coos Bay Pulp Corp. and later the vice president and West Coast manager of Scott Paper Company.His younger brother, Willis, started the Coos Head Timber Company in 1946 and Wylie joined him in business in 1951.For 45 years, they ran the prosperous business that at one time included three sawmills, a plywood mill, a pulp mill, a shipping dock and a California sales operation.Wylie was active in the Coos Bay Elks Club, a chairman of the Coos Bay School Board and a president of the Rotary Club of Coos Bay-North Bend.His greatest enjoyment was watching his son, Wylie Jr., participate in basketball, football and track and field for Marshfield, and he donated $1 million to the Marshfield football renovation project.