Portland, Meet Walt and Jean

Jean Richardson was the first woman in Oregon to earn a Civil Engineering degreeIt was a ceremonious scene on the second floor of City Hall: Two pioneers of their respective fields stood proud and smiled as Sam announced the new tram cars would be named in their honor.

So, Portland, we give you Jean and Walt.

Jean Richardson, the first woman to graduate with a Civil Engineering degree in Oregon, and whose tram car will be named "Jean," said she hoped that her name on the tram would remind women how far they've come in the last half-century and encourage them to continue to infiltrate the engineering world.

Walt Reynolds was first African American to earn a medical degree from OHSUThe car dubbed "Walt" was named for Walter Reynolds, the first African American to graduate from the University of Oregon Medical School, now called Oregon Health and Science University. Walt said he wasn't so excited about being recognized for his individual acheivement. Rather, he hoped the tram car would represent progress in minority hiring practices and remind people it wasn't so long ago there were little-to-no medical professionals of color.

The press conference also highlighted the names given to the two tram stations. Chameffu (pronounced: tcham-EH-foo), meaning "on the mountain," is derived from the Tualatin/Yamhill/Kalapuya native language and will represent the upper station. The same language was used to name the lower station, dubbed Chamanchal (tcha-mAHn-tchal), which means "on the river." Nichole Maher, Executive Director of the Native American Youth and Family Center, said it has been decades since the city named anything using a local Native American language, and that the names represent a great honor.

Stephen Leflar, spokesperson for the Tram Naming Committee, spoke about the significance of using real pioneers who have bridged racial and gender-related divides, much like the tram serves as a bridge between South Waterfront and OHSU. He added: "To see a path where others don't, is visionary. To make that path into a bridge for others, is revolutionary, for it crosses the unseen chasm. The committe agreed these names would inspire all of us -- that we can improve our world."

Fourth-grader Jules Renaud, the youngest member of the naming Fourth-grader and tram naming committee member Jules Renaudcommittee, and who suggested we name the stations using words meaning mountain and river, also spoke. He thanked Sam for inviting him onto the committe, and encouraged more committees to bring in kids because "kids have good ideas." He said he knew plenty of kids, if we need them.

Sam, Walt and Jean will officially christen the tram cars Thursday, January 25 at 9:00 a.m. at the South Waterfront, or Chamanchal station.

• This is the Oregonian article Tram twins: Meet two who soar
• This is the Portland Tribune article Say hi to Jean and Walt
• This is the KGW TV article City chooses names for new aerial tramcars

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