BEND, OR -- A local veteran will be inducted into the Oregon Military Hall of Fame Sunday. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dick Tobiason joins six others to be honored at a ceremony in Clackamas. Tobiason is chairman of the Bend Heroes Foundation, and says he’s happy to be recognized for his efforts to support veterans, “The nine Veterans highways across Oregon and then the Medal of Honor highway across the United States. So, it's coincidental that those projects are finishing this year when I'm being inducted.”

He tells KBND News he’ll use his induction speech to talk about other projects, “If this old octogenarian can get a medal of honor highway across the United States. Surely the Gold Star mothers and Gold Star wives can extend the Oregon Gold Star family's memorial highway across the United States.”

“You go out and do something that’s never been done, and you find out how to do it, and you succeed. And you build on that for the next thing,” he says that next thing is an exhibit at a military museum in Washington state.

Tobiason will continue working to recognize and honor war veterans, “So those are things you do for people who are humble; who would never seek any honors for themselves. But that’s our job.”

The late Bob Maxwell was inducted in 2008, the last Oregon Military Hall of Fame ceremony was in 2009. 

Photo: KBND File November 2023-Dick Tobiason