June 16, 2009

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Oregon State University Alumni Association has presented Ken and Sue Poorman of Portland with the Dan Poling Service Award. They were honored at an awards banquet in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Tuesday (March 6).

Named for an influential dean of men who served OSU for more than five decades, the Dan Poling Service Award recognizes those who have volunteered a significant amount of time to OSU, carrying on Poling’s legacy of dedication to the university. The Poormans have given decades of service to OSU including volunteering on boards for the OSU Foundation, OSU athletics and the College of Business.

“Ken and Sue Poorman have been incredible leaders at OSU, and the university is a better place because of their service,” said Jeff Todd, executive director of the OSU Alumni Association.

Ken Poorman, a 1961 business graduate, is the founder of the Poorman-Douglas Corporation, which became Portland's largest data processing company under his leadership as chairman of the board. His service to OSU includes several terms on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees, and he is past president and chair of that board. He is a charter member of the OSU College of Business Advisory Council and served on the founding board of the Oregon Executive M.B.A. program. He also has served on the Beaver Club Board of Directors and on the Athletic Board.

Sue Poorman has been volunteering with the Beaver Athletic Student Fund for nearly 30 years, helping raise funds to support OSU student-athletes. She led the BASF as president from 1991-92 when it was called the Beaver Club. Sue Poorman has also served on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees. For her outstanding commitment to OSU Athletics, she received the Martin Chaves Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and was inducted into the BASF Hall of Fame in 2003.

The Poormans have two grown sons: Dr. Jay Clifford Poorman, a 1984 OSU science graduate, and Matthew R. Poorman, a Washington State University graduate. Their granddaughter, Alexandra, is an OSU student majoring in science.

Click photos to see a full-size version. Right click and save image to download.