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Witness Post: Ron Waugh, thank you

August 20, 2015, arriving at 1700 SW Salmon, I met our new teaching colleague, Ron Waugh. “What was your path to Lincoln?” I asked. He explained that he was an adjunct professor at Portland State and walked by the school enough times to be curious about it. Principal Peyton Chapman had invited him to apply for a position vacated by the marketing teacher, Arlie Payton. That initial curiosity has turned into an 8-year opportunity for me to get to know Ron Waugh and to claim him as one of the kindest, smartest and most well-traveled people I know. 

Background

Ron and his sister grew up as the kids of a college professor and General Motors employee. Ron attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he majored in German. He worked hard as an undergraduate and finished his studies earning magna cum laude honors. After some time traveling and living in Europe, Ron returned to the States and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School, with a concentration in Finance.

In his time after HBS, Ron began his 16-year career with the chemical powerhouse W.R. Grace. He first worked in the New York City office, where he served as special assistant to the founder’s grandson, Peter Grace. Ron later joined the Grace team in Amsterdam, where he blossomed into a Global Chocolate Mogul. He is a true chocolatier! Hence the ever-present bags of Oreos in his classroom. Through a merger, Grace became part of Archer Midland Daniels (AMD). Mr. Waugh held on for 3 more years, post-merger. Then he left AMD for another 16-year stint. This time Ron became a partner with the LIM consulting group, (Leadership in International Management), which was headquartered in Florida. Ron was in Florida often, but lived in Chile, during this part of his life. 

Ron Waugh with his dogs in Chile

Ron is fluent in more languages than you can imagine, having worked and lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Santiago, Chile, where he still owns property and boards his dogs. In the USA, Ron has lived in Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, Indiana, New York, Oregon and Massachusetts, among others. He will soon be moving back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his husband, Mallach. 

In Awe of Mr. Waugh

To say that “I am in awe of Mr. Waugh” is an understatement. He has been an exceptionally organized Dept Head, a clever and personable colleague and an ideal sounding board. His unique skills include strategic planning, competitive analysis, leadership development, team building and executive coaching. Ron is also a great listener. He knows more about Social Security (all 4 parts), O-PERS, 403(b) Plans, Perkins Funds, IRS tax codes, mergers and acquisitions, FBLA, financial statements, international cuisine and travel, VISA & Green Card qualifications and public transportation routes than most people on the planet.

It is hard to stand near Ron, during passing periods as he converses with students in multiple languages. It is even harder during the teacher-gauntlet with graduating seniors, because so many kids want to hug and thank him for his faith in them.

Ron truly should be thanked for his leadership, his friendship and his genuine interest in kids. That steadfast “personal interest and faith in students” says it all. We are all so fortunate that the benefits of a PPS teacher beat the pants off the benefits of an adjunct PSU professor.

Ron, you are the best. We will definitely miss you. 

ALS Fundraiser, 2015, Ron Waugh takes on the Ice Bucket Challenge  

  — Henry Hooper