Categories: EventsFeatures

2014 Pacific University Legends Hosted by Tommy Thayer Once Again Scores Big for Boxer Athletics

The Doors’ Robby Krieger joined KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and Chicago founding member Danny Seraphine for Thayer’s 2014 Legends fundraiser to benefit Pacific University’s NCAA Division III athletics department. Thayer is a member of Pacific’s Board of Trustees who has hosted the event for eight consecutive years. This year’s edition raised nearly $250,000.

Dayton, Oregon, July 11th, 2014. The 2014 edition of Pacific University Legends hosted by Tommy Thayer took place at the Stoller Family Estate near Dayton, Ore., with proceeds benefiting the university’s 24-sport NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program. At the event, The Doors’ Robby Krieger joined KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and Chicago founding member Danny Seraphine the benefit for Pacific University’s NCAA Division III athletics department. Thayer is a member of Pacific’s Board of Trustees who has hosted the event for eight consecutive years. This year’s edition raised nearly $250,000.

Stimson Lumber board chairman Dan Dutton were among the attendees at Legends 2014. Stimson was the presenting sponsor of Legends 2014.

Pacific University alumni Paul and Nancy Phillips, co-founders of Pac/West, enjoy Pacific University Legends hosted by Tommy Thayer. Nancy is a current member of the university’s Board of Trustees, and Paul is a trustee emeritus.

Bill Stoller, founder of Express Employment Professionals and a Pacific University alumnus and trustee, hosted Legends at the Stoller Family Estate.

Tommy Thayer, the lead guitarist of KISS and a member of the Pacific University Board of Trustees, has hosted Legends since 2007, and indoing so, helped raise more than $600,000 for the Boxer Athletics.

Presented by Stimson Lumber, Legends 2014 provided an exclusive and intimate evening of wine tasting, a gourmet dinner, an auction, fabulous music and fellowship, for approximately 120 invited guests who had bid on the dinner at Legends 2013 along with other generous sponsors.

Auction items included several vacation getaways, spa packages, handcrafted home furnishings and a Denver Broncos VIP football experience. In all, Legends 2014 helped secure nearly $250,000 in funding for athletics department operations and facilities improvements.

Joining Thayer for the much-anticipated concert this year were The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, Chicago founding member and former drummer Danny Seraphine and others.

Other attendees included Pacific University president Lesley Hallick, former Stimson Lumber chief executive and current board chairman Dan Dutton; Pacific alumnus, trustee and Express Services co-founder Bill Stoller ’74; retired Weyerhaeuser executive and Pacific University trustee Rich Hanson and wife Joy; and PAC/WEST co-founders and Pacific alumni Nancy ’77, ’82 MAT and Paul Phillips ’78. Nancy is a current member of the Board of Trustees and Paul is a trustee emeritus.

Nearly half of the undergraduate student body participates in intercollegiate athletics at Pacific University. Success from Legends has helped pay for athletic equipment, uniforms, travel and facilities upgrades, and been instrumental in the expansion of opportunities for Pacific students.

The Hansons provided the lead gift for the roof project at the 2013 and 2014 Legends events. The stadium, formerly Lincoln Park Stadium, has has been renamed Hanson Stadium in their honor. A ceremony recognizing their leadership and generosity will take place during the football team’s home opener at the stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.