Mary & Bill Mainwaring at KMUZ Studio, December 2018 December 6 & 13, 2018, Episodes.
How does a self-proclaimed "nerdy" guy newly arrived from Nampa, Idaho, meet up with the all-American girl-next-door from a dairy farm in Rickreall, Oregon? Through the newspaper, of course! Our guests Bill Mainwaring and Mary Bell Mainwaring have been actively involved in our area for many years, and the dynamic partnership begun during their college years continues strong!
The story goes that a co-worker of Bill's at the Capital Journal newspaper, where Bill worked in the summers during his college years, was a relative of Mary and really sang her praises. Bill sucked up his courage and asked her out, and to his surprise she agreed! The story gets even sweeter when they learned later that Mary's dad had a hand in their first date as well! It seems that all grand stories need an unassuming but pivotal beginning, as the Mainwaring's story demonstrates.
How does a self-proclaimed "nerdy" guy newly arrived from Nampa, Idaho, meet up with the all-American girl-next-door from a dairy farm in Rickreall, Oregon? Through the newspaper, of course! Our guests Bill Mainwaring and Mary Bell Mainwaring have been actively involved in our area for many years, and the dynamic partnership begun during their college years continues strong!
The story goes that a co-worker of Bill's at the Capital Journal newspaper, where Bill worked in the summers during his college years, was a relative of Mary and really sang her praises. Bill sucked up his courage and asked her out, and to his surprise she agreed! The story gets even sweeter when they learned later that Mary's dad had a hand in their first date as well! It seems that all grand stories need an unassuming but pivotal beginning, as the Mainwaring's story demonstrates.
 Mary Bell [Mainwaring], Oregon State University, 1954 |  Married August 8, 1962 |  Bill Mainwaring, University of Oregon, 1955 |
Bill Mainwaring receiving an Army ROTC honor, c1956 Bill's parents, Bernard & Jenny Mainwaring, purchased the Capital Journal newspaper from George Putnam in 1953 while Bill was still in high school in Nampa, Idaho. The day after Bill's graduation, the rest of the family moved to join Bernard in Salem. Bill, who seems to have ink in his veins, was the editor of his high school newspaper, the Growl, and then began working at the Capital Journal in between terms at the University of Oregon, where he soon was also editing their newspaper, the Emerald. Bill was a member of the Army ROTC on campus, as were many of his peers. He would serve in the Army and then the Army reserves, retiring from the reserves as a captain.
Mary Mainwaring with children Doug & Julie, preparing for a baking demonstration, c1971 Mary Bell was active in the Delta Delta Delta sorority at OSU and was honored to ride on their float in the Rose Bowl Parade on two occasions. Following graduation from OSU, Mary went on to receive her teaching credentials at Oregon College of Education, now known as Western Oregon University. Mary taught at the preschool level before her marriage to Bill. Their family grew quickly to include three children, each about 23 months apart, so raising her children and making a nurturing home became her primary focus. She soon became known for her cooking as well as her extensive community service. She shared her talents readily for community events and occasionally in print. One of her most requested treats was an Italian Cream Cake using the recipe of Margaret Snyder who worked for her friend Marion Lasswell. To print a copy of that treasured recipe, click here.
| Bernard Mainwaring's family came to the Newberg area from Wisconsin in 1912. The Mainwarings purchased several small newspapers and were actively publishing one in Nampa, Idaho, prior to their purchase of the Capital Journal in 1953. The maternal side of Mary's family, the Packets, came to Oregon over the Oregon Trail. Her maternal Grandfather Ulen was a shipbuilder based in Portland. The Bell side of her family arrived in the valley in the early 1900s from Pennsylvania, settling two miles south of Rickreall where they built a dairy business. Mary's parents, Burton Charles & Anne Eugenia Ulen Bell, were married 69 years. |  Anne Eugenia Ulen (Mary's mother) christening the USS Gabura, 1918  Burton Charles Bell & Anne Ulen Bell, c1920 |
Bernard Mainwaring, inset, Bill Mainwaring at Capital Journal {Photo: Statesman-Journal 3/18/2001] The Capital Journal was purchased by George Putnam in 1919, becoming its sixth owner. He published the paper until it was sold to Bernard Mainwaring in 1953. After running the paper for a short time, Mr. Mainwaring and Governor Charles A. Sprague, owner of the Oregon Statesman, determined it would be in the best interest of all to merge their companies and share certain production services, while keeping totally independent in all other aspects. Upon Bernard's sudden death in 1957, E.A. "Ted" Brown, an employee since 1920, was appointed publisher by company president Jenny Mainwaring. Mr. Brown served there until his retirement in 1962, at which time Bill Mainwaring assumed the position. Although quite young among publishers, Bill, aged 27, had already worked in many departments of the newspaper by the time he joined the management team in 1959 following his military service.
In 1974, the Sprague and Mainwaring families agreed to sell their newspapers to the Gannett Company. Bill continued as publisher of both yet independent papers until 1976, when he left to pursue magazine and book publishing. Citing the economic downturn, the Gannett Company merged the two papers under one editorship in 1980, and the resulting Statesman-Journal newspaper debuted on July 1, 1980.
 Capital Journal Newspaper Co., Liberty & Court Streets, 1889 [Photo: salemhistory.net] |  Brown Building, 215 Commercial Street S, home of Capital Journal until c1934 [Photo: salemhistory.net] |  Capital Journal Building, 444 Chemeketa Street NE, 1934-54 [Photo: salemhistory.net] |
After leaving the Statesman-Journal paper, Bill told us he took an extended vacation and then began his book writing/publishing career. He published four books covering travel in his favorite areas of Oregon, as well as a Civics textbook (shown below). The textbook, which came from years of covering the legislature, was used in Oregon schools for five years before being discontinued due to the frequent need to produce updated versions.
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Bill & Mary Mainwaring have served their community well over the years, as they continue to do today. Mary still works with the Assistance League (their longest active member, per Bill) but has had her fingers in many other organizations, including the PEO sisterhood, Boys & Girls Aid Society, and the Library Foundation. Bill has held a seat on many civic committees, including perhaps the first committee to study the third-bridge option. He has also served on the boards of Salem Hospital, Salvation Army, and others. He still chairs the Election Programs committee for Salem City Club. It came as no surprise to learn that Bill was named Salem's First Citizen in 1982 (which we learned through others than ever-humble Bill).
 Bill & Mary, Doug, Julie & Anne Marie, Mary's 60th Birthday, 1996  Bill & Mary Mainwaring, 50th Wedding Anniversary, August 2012 | We feel certain that both Bill and Mary would agree that their crowning achievement is their family: daughters Anne Marie and Julia, son Douglas, and their extended families, all of whom live in the Pacific Northwest. Bill admits to being a die-hard Ducks fan who has never missed a Rose Bowl in which they played, and is doing his best to ensure this attribute continues through the next generations. Mary has become a Duck fan by default, yet secretly enjoys hearing that the Beavers of her alma mater have done well. All the wonderful people we have interviewed in our Yesterday's Voices series have demonstrated the same spirit of service to family, community, and country we found with the Mainwarings. This commitment beyond oneself helped build our pioneer communities, carried us through great national trials, and continues to undergird strong communities. May we continue to give selfishly of ourselves going forward. When we do, we all win--especially future generations. |
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers. All photographs are courtesy of the Mainwaring family unless otherwise noted.
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