Onthank, Karl William, 1890-1968.

Born in Vineland, New Jersey in 1890, Karl Onthank moved to Hood River, Oregon with his family when he was thirteen. He entered the University of Oregon in 1909 and graduated in 1913. Onthank married Ruth McLaren in 1915. After a brief period during which he worked as a school teacher, principal, and superintendent in Hood River and Tillamook, Oregon, Onthank joined the University of Oregon staff in 1916 as executive secretary to President Prince Lucian Campbell. From 1924 to 1926, he was one of three members of an administrative team which took over during President Campbell's illness and began the search for his successor. In 1930, Onthank was named dean of personnel administration for the university. In 1948, he became associate dean of students in charge of job placement, a position he held until his retirement in 1957. Besides serving the university for many years, Karl Onthank was a lifelong conservationist. He and Ruth McLaren Onthank were active members of many conservationist groups and worked on various projects, such as the Oregon Dunes National Park. Karl Onthank died in 1968.

Born in Vineland, New Jersey, in 1890, Karl Onthank moved to Hood River, Oregon when he was thirteen. He entered the University of Oregon in 1909 and graduated in 1913. Onthank married Ruth McLaren in 1915. Onthank joined the University of Oregon staff in 1916 as executive secretary to President Prince Lucian Campbell. From 1924 to 1926 he was one of three members of an administrative team which took over during President Campbell's illness

and the search for his successor. In 1930 Onthank was named dean of personnel administration for the university. In 1948 he became associate dean of students in charge of job placement, a position he held until his retirement in 1957. Onthank was a lifelong conservationist. He and Ruth McLaren Onthank were active members of many conservationist groups and worked on various projects. He died in 1968.

Onthank was a leader in Northwest conservation activities. He was a principal organizer of the Friends of the Three Sisters Wilderness and served as its president 1955-1960. He was one of the organizers of the Save the McKenzie River Association and served as its vice-president. He was president of the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, 1955-1957, and during that time sponsored the first Northwest Wilderness Conference in Portland, OR. Some of the other conservation groups that Onthank belonged to were the Columbia Basin Inter-Agency Committee, Eugene Parks and Recreation Commission, Obsidians, Oregon Outdoor Recreation Advisory Council, Oregon Roadside Council, Oregon State Water Resources Board, Sierra Club, Trustees for Conservation, and Waldo Lake Advisory Council.

Karl William Onthank was born in 1890 in Vineland, New Jersey, and moved to Hood River, Oregon with his family when he was thirteen. Onthank graduated from the University of Oregon in 1913 and married Ruth McLaren in 1915. In 1916 he joined the University of Oregon staff as executive secretary to President Prince Lucian Campbell. From 1924 to 1926 he was one of three members of an administrative team which took over during President Campbell's illness and the search for his successor. In 1930 Onthank was named dean of personnel administration for the university. In l948 he became associate dean of students in charge of job placement, a position he held until his retirement in l957. Onthank died in 1968.

In 1954 Karl and Ruth Onthank, together with other outdoor and conservation activists, formed the Friends of the Three Sisters Wilderness (F3S), dedicated to preserving the Three Sisters Primitive area of the Willamette and Deschutes national forests. He served as president of the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs from 1955 to 1957. Onthank helped organize the Save the McKenzie River Association and served as its vice-president. Some of the other groups to which Onthank belonged are: the Columbia Basin Inter-Agency Committee, Eugene Park and Recreation Commission, Izaak Walton League of America, Lane County Park and Recreation Commission, Obsidians, Oregon Outdoor Recreation Advisory, Oregon Roadside Council, Oregon State Water Resources Board, Sierra Club, Trustees for Conservation, and Waldo Lake Advisory Council.

Born in Vineland, New Jersey in 1890, Karl Onthank moved to Hood River, Oregon with his family when he was thirteen. He entered the University of Oregon in 1909 and graduated in 1913. Onthank married Ruth McLaren in 1915. After a brief period during which he worked as a school teacher, principal, and superintendent in Hood River and Tillamook, Oregon, Onthank joined the University of Oregon staff in 1916 as executive secretary to President Prince Lucian Campbell. From 1924 to 1926 he was one of three members of an administrative team which took over during President Campbell's illness and began the search for his successor.

In 1930 Onthank was named dean of personnel administration for the university. In 1948 he became associate dean of students in charge of job placement, a position he held until his retirement in 1957.

Besides serving the university for many years, Karl Onthank was a lifelong conservationist. He and Ruth McLaren Onthank were active members of many conservationist groups and worked on various projects, such as the Oregon Dunes National Park. Karl Onthank died in 1968.

For Onthank's conservation papers see collection Ax 356.