H. Eugene "Gene" Forrester

H. Eugene (Gene) Forrester was born in a farmhouse on a farm adjourning Bourbon, OR (between Grass Valley & Kent) on May 16, 1928. Gene passed away at home on December 18, 2020. His parents were Charles S. and Edna Hoffmeister Forrester. In 1937 the family bought a farm near Goldendale, WA and moved there where Gene attended school, graduating from high school in 1946. He was editor of the school paper, played football, baseball and track and was also very active in 4-H and FFA. He showed the grand champion steer three consecutive years at the Klickitat County Fair and first in class at the Pacific International Livestock Exposition in Portland, OR.

After graduating from high school Gene enrolled in Washington State College (now known as WSU). He pledged Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and worked four years as a house boy in a sorority. Gene took advanced Air Force ROTC and received his commission in 1950. He was also selected for the dairy cattle judging team, which won the regional contest with Gene placing as high individual judge. Gene graduated in 1951 with a B.S. in Agriculture and a B. of Ed. He was named to four honor societies: Mu Beta Beta (4-H), Alpha Tau Alpha (Agric Ed), Alpha Zeta (Agric) and Kappa Delta Pi (Educ).

After graduating from WSC Gene took a job teaching Agricultural Mechanics at Ellensburg High School. In 1952 he was introduced to a beautiful young lady, Vivian Roberts. They were married on July 19, 1953 and have four daughters and five grandchildren.

In 1954 Gene was called to active duty in the U.S. Air Force and spent 10 months in technical training in Denver followed by 13 months at Naha AF Base in Okinawa. After separation from active duty he remained active in the reserves, became Unit Commander and retired in 1974 as a Lt. Col. Gene returned to teach Agric. Science at Ellensburg High School and for 17 years had more students win state and national awards in the FFA than any high school in the state. In 1968 he was voted state teacher of the year and in 1969 was one of 25 Agric. Science teachers in the United States to be awarded the Honorary American Farmer Degree.

Gene and Vivian bought a 170 acre farm in 1959 and built a house on it. In 1972 they moved to Olympia after Gene took a job in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as a Supervisor of Agric. Education. In 1983 he became the Director and administered the Federal Carl Perkins Vocational Education Act. He retired in 1991. Immediately upon retiring Gene formed a consulting business and did consulting work for five years. In 1984 the Chinese Government invited Gene and Vivian to bring a delegation of FFA members to China. They took 13 students and spent 17 days visiting places like the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, walking on the Great Wall, Nanjing, experimental farms, dairies, the Terra Cotta Soldiers in Sian, and Shanghai.

Gene served on the Thurston County Fair Board for 12 years and six years on the State Fairs Commission, chair for three years. After retirement Gene became active in AARP serving as chair of the State Legislative Committee and the Capitol City Task Force. He was then appointed to the National Legislative/Policy Committee, serving for eight years. Gene joined The Retired Officers Assn. (TROA), now MOAA, and was president. He also participated in the Senior Citizens Lobby serving as vice president for several years and president for one year. Gene served one three-year term on the Thurston County Planning Commission and was appointed by Gov. Gregoire to serve on the Select Committee on Pension Policy representing all retired public employees.

Gene was a member of Kiwanis for over 50 years. He was a charter member and president of the Rodeo City Kiwanis Club in Ellensburg, a president of the Olympia Kiwanis Club, as well as a Lt. Governor of Division 38. Dear to his heart was chairing the wood project for over 25 years, delivering approximately 75 cords of wood each winter to low-income families. Gene was also very active in the Washington State School Retirees Assn., serving as unit president and state president as well as parliamentarian and serving on many committees.

Of all the honors and awards Gene received, the most significant was in 2010 when he received the WSU Alumni Distinguished Alumni Award.

Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing and bagged several deer and elk. He was a passionate softball player playing for the Olympia 60s, and the Seattle & Portland 70s which merged to form the Northwest 75s. This team won the world championship in 2004. Gene was named to the World Tournament All-Star team four times and retired from playing at age 84. He also enjoyed his monthly poker group. Gene’s poker buddies will all now say: “With Gene gone, someone else will have a chance to win!”

Gene and Vivian did considerable traveling during their later years, taking three Holland America cruises (Alaska/land, Caribbean/Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera) and three Gate 1 tours (13 days in Turkey, 8 days in the United Arab Emirates including on top of the Burj Khalifa (tallest building in the world) and 13 days in Germany.

Gene was preceded in death by his father in 1952, his mother in 1993 and his sister (Lucy Calhoun) in 2015. He is survived by his wife, Vivian; daughter Melissa Mattick (Steve); daughter Beverly Garcia; daughter Marilyn Finley (Tod); daughter Pamela Forrester; and six dear grandchildren - Richie Mattick (Leela); Kevin Mattick; Drew Hadaller; and Nicole and Mikayla Garcia.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either the WSSRA Gene Forrester Memorial Scholarship Fund, the WSSRA Foundation, or the WA State FFA Foundation.

A memorial service will be held on January 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., provided by Mills & Mills.