The UO family mourns the passing of Lloyd Powell, a 1955 graduate and lifelong supporter of the University of Oregon. He died June 18 at age 84.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a dear member of our university family,” said UO President Michael H. Schill. “With a big smile and boundless energy, Lloyd embraced life and found great success along the way, while giving back in so many meaningful ways to the university he loved.”
Powell grew up in rural Oregon, the son of a logger. He played six-man football at Triangle Lake High School and earned a football scholarship to the UO. He played both offense and defense for coach Len “Cas” Casanova and ran track for Bill Bowerman. In his senior year, he scored the winning touchdown against Oregon State.
It was in those early days at the UO that classmate Herb Yamanaka, a 1956 graduate, and Powell began 66 years of friendship.
“I met Lloyd in 1952 when he was my UO neighbor,” Yamanaka said. “Cas often said, ‘Lloyd might be small, but he is a great runner with a large heart.’”
The two friends and Powell’s son Peter enjoyed many fishing trips in Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.
“He will be sorely missed,” Yamanaka said. “Every time I drive past Triangle Lake, I will think of Lloyd.”
Powell graduated from the UO with a degree in business administration. He went on to a successful career in property development, eventually becoming the largest Albertson’s developer in the nation as well as building for Safeway, Costco, Walgreen’s, Thrifty Drugs and others.
He also started Pine Mountain Cattle Company, a cattle ranch in Bend specializing in Simmental cows. He became president of the National Simmental Association and represented the United States in the World Simmental Federation.
Attributing much of his success to what he learned at the UO, Powell gave back generously to his alma mater, through financial gifts to intercollegiate athletics and the Lundquist College of Business, and by serving as a UO Foundation trustee from 1982-92.
Hayward Field’s Powell Plaza is named for the family; Lloyd received the Pioneer Award in 2014. In 1997 he and his wife, Sharon, received the Presidential Medal.
Despite his business success, university friends say Lloyd Powell was proudest of being the patriarch of a large, loving family — many of whom are also Ducks. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; son Peter and daughter-in-law Molly, both 1978 UO grads; sons Tom, a 1980 grad, Tal and Garrett; eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.