Tom Lawson McCall was Oregon's 30th Governor and without much dispute was the best of the lot. He died young (age 64) due to late diagnosed prostate cancer and became an outspoken advocate for men to have their digital checkups early on and without embarrassment. McCall was a Republican during an era when that was not a shameful thing to own up to. His positive and lasting accomplishments were many, especially in the arena of environmentalism way before that was a trendy issue. An example that I always loved: During the early 70's gas/energy crisis he ordered business to turn off their external advertising lights stating that "People wouldn’t believe there was a crisis with the Golden Arches blazing away... People are fed up with garishness. They feel assaulted by blinking, flashing, rotating, ostentatious waste." Try that one today, LOL.  He was also famously quoted as saying "Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven's sake, don't come here to live." Unfortunately, since then we have been nearly Californicated to death.

I am not sure what this particular Walk-a-Thon was sponsoring or promoting, but it had a brief iteration in the '80's along Portland's waterfront renewal area that fittingly became known as "Tom McCall Waterfront Park" This was during a time when Portland was starting to bloom as a great city with its own particular cache. I have seen other pin backs from this series but not the 1987 version, so I will call it rare here. Excellent vintage condition and looks unworn. The pin itself was also made in Portland by "Sundance." 

VISIT BUT DON'T STAY