Dick Bogle facts for kids

Richard Waldo Bogle Jr. (born October 19, 1930 – died February 25, 2010) was an American journalist and politician. He made history as the first black television news reporter in Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest. Later, he served two terms as a Portland city commissioner, which is like being a member of the city's main governing council.

Early Life of Dick Bogle

Richard Bogle was born in Portland, Oregon in 1930. His father was a businessman, and his mother, Kathryn Hall Bogle, was a journalist. His great-grandparents, Richard Arthur and America Waldo Bogle, were among the first black settlers in the Pacific Northwest.

Growing up, Bogle went to Hosford Grade School. He then graduated from Washington High School. After high school, he studied at Oregon State College and Vanport Extension Center.

Dick Bogle's Career

After college, Bogle worked as an investigator for insurance fraud. In 1952, he wrote for the Portland Challenger newspaper. This newspaper was started by William A. Hilliard and focused on the black community. Bogle wrote about jazz music and sports. He also worked as an Associate Editor for the Challenger.

From Police Officer to News Reporter

From 1959 to 1968, Richard Bogle served as a police officer. In January 1968, he joined KATU as a reporter. He was assigned to cover the primary election that year. In 1973, he became an anchor for Eyewitness News. Bogle worked at KATU until 1982. After that, he became an executive assistant for City Commissioner Mildred Schwab.

Becoming a City Commissioner

In 1984, City Commissioner Charles Jordan announced he was leaving his position. Jordan was the first black commissioner in Portland. Bogle decided to run for the job. He won 28% of the votes in the first round. Then, he won against Herb Cawthorne with 55% of the votes in the final election.

This made Bogle the second African American to be elected to Portland's City Council. He was re-elected in 1988. He ran again in 1992 but did not win that election. On his last day as commissioner, he said he had worked to make Portland a city his grandchildren would be proud of.

After Politics

After leaving politics, Bogle went back to writing. He wrote articles for magazines like DownBeat and newspapers like The Christian Science Monitor. He also took and published photos of jazz artists. Bogle volunteered as a jazz DJ for KMHD radio. He also helped the Portland Police Bureau with their cold case unit, which investigates old unsolved crimes.

Personal Life

Richard Bogle married jazz singer Nola Sugai Porter in 1977. They had three children together. Nola also had two children from a previous marriage. In 2005, they moved to Vancouver, Washington. Richard Bogle passed away in Vancouver on February 25, 2010. He died from congestive heart failure.