Dick Cottle passes

Richard (Dick) Curtis Cottle, 83, passed away at his home in Ashland, Ore., on May 23, 2010. Dick was born Nov. 22, 1926, in Dorrance, Kans. His parents were Volney Curtis Cottle and Hazel May Haupmann. He had an older brother, Volney Curtis Cottle, Jr.

In high school, Dick played various sports and was class president for three years. He played trumpet in the dance band Kelly and his Rhythm Knights. In Oct. 1944, Dick enlisted in the Navy Air Corps, where he was a Naval Air Force Radio/Gunner. He was a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

Dick married Elizabeth Anne Morgan on Nov. 17, 1946. He graduated from Washburn University in Topeka in 1953 with a bachelor of science, bachelor of law and doctorate of law degrees. His education included: Dean of Washburn University Law School fraternity; law clerk for the Kansas Insurance Commissioner in 1951; law clerk for Kansas Supreme Court in 1952; and law clerk for Federal District Court, in Wichita, Kans. from 1952-1955.

His professional activities included: Kansas State Bar Association, in 1953; law clerk Federal District Court, Wichita, Kans. from 1953-1955; Oregon State Bar Association in 1955; past president of Jackson County Bar Association; Governor's Council on Crime and Detention in 1967; Oregon State Bar Professional Responsibility Board and Client's Protection Fund Committee; Oregon School Attorneys Association; active practice of law in Ashland, Ore., from 1955-1997; Southern Oregon professor of business law from 1974-1996.

Dick's community activities included: Ashland City Councilman; Ashland municipal judge and founder of the Ashland Juvenile Court System; chairman of Ashland Downtown Development and Economic Development Commissions; vice president and member of Board of Directors of Oregon Shakespearean Festival Association; president of Ashland Junior Chamber of Commerce; Ashland Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award in 1968; president of Ashland Rotary Club; president of the Mt. Ashland Corporation; member of Ashland Firehouse Five; member of Easy Valley Eight Band .

His Southern Oregon University affiliations included: business law professor from 1971-1996; Special Attorney General's assistance for SOU in 1982; Foundation board member from 1980-85; Foundation legal counsel from 1985-1994; chairman of Search Committee for dean of School of Business in 1994; 1994 School of Business Business After Hours honoree.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother; and wife, Elizabeth. Surviving are son, Rick and wife, Dorinda; son, Morgan and wife, Tara; and nine grandchildren, Skyler, Brady, Kane, Stephanie, Houston, Shaun, Heather, Carly, and Sarah.

A public celebration will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at the Ashland Elks Lodge, BPOE 944, on 225 E. Main St. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Southern Oregon University Foundation or Raider Athletic Association.
[furnished by Medford Mail Tribune]