Mike Barrow Collection

1 linear foot

This collection contains pictures of Mike Barrow, starting from his early childhood until he joined the army. There are also football photos of Mike Barrow. This collection also contains newspaper articles about Linfield College football, Mike’s death and the medals he earned, condolence letters (from friends, coaches but also important political figures), and letters about the medals. Also in the collection are high school yearbooks.

Arranged in 4 series: 1. Photographs, 1945-2011. 2. Documents, 1945-2011. 3. Bound Volumes, 1960-1968. 4. Memorial Memorabilia, 2011.

Access is by appointment only. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment.

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• English

• Latin

https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=lca_findingaids

Bob Ferguson donated the Mike Barrow Collection papers to the Linfield College Archives on November 2011.

Jereld R. Nicholson Library, Linfield University

Summary: Documents and photographs from the life of Mike Barrow, a star athlete and very involved student of Linfield College who died in 1969 while serving his country in the Vietnam War. He earned a purple heart and other important medals.

Biographical/Historical Note: Michael (Mike) Edward Barrow was born on July 3, 1945, in Brownwood, Texas. His
father (Eugene B. Barrow) came west as an orphan and went to high school in Red Bluff, Calif., and Klamath Union High School in Klamath Falls, Ore. He was a good high school athlete. Mike’s mother (Edna Myrna VanNoy Barrow), a native of Madras, Ore., graduated from Redmond Union High School in Redmond, Ore. Eugene and Edna married in 1937. When Mike was born, his father was studying at Baptist-affiliated Howard Payne University.

When Mike was six months old, the Barrows moved to Oregon where Eugene became pastor of a church in New Pine Creek. Mike played football, basketball and baseball for the Crook County Cowboys. He was a good athlete and wanted to continue in college. After graduating from high school in 1963, Mike went to Linfield College for several reason: First of all, Linfield is Baptist-affiliated and Mike was the son of a Baptist pastor. Second of all, Mike could get the education he wanted (he ended up with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education). Thirdly, Mike was not big enough to play sports at a big school but could star at a small college like Linfield. Mike was the quarterback for the football team and also a proud Delta Psi Delta member.

Mike graduated from Linfield in 1968. He went to work at Steinfeld Pickles where he also worked before and during college. But the war in Vietnam loomed in the background. Because Mike was no longer a student, he was not eligible for a student
draft deferment. It was likely that that Mike would be drafted, so in October 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Mike began basic training in Fort Lewis, Wash., about 130 miles north of Portland.

Mike’s tour of duty began April 3, 1969, in Vietnam. A private first class in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, he died during combat less than three months later on June 23, 1969, at the age of 23. Mike’s funeral was in Portland on Tuesday afternoon, July 8, 1969.

Processed by archives technician Matthijs Baurichter, with the assistance of archivist Rachael Cristine Woody.