Editing Victor Atiyeh

{{Short description|American politician (1923–2014)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Vic Atiyeh
|image        = Victor Atiyeh in 1986 (cropped).jpg
|caption      = Atiyeh in 1986
|order        = 32nd
|office       = Governor of Oregon
|term_start   = January 8, 1979
|term_end     = January 12, 1987
|predecessor  = [[Robert W. Straub|Bob Straub]]
|successor    = [[Neil Goldschmidt]]
|office1      = Member of the [[Oregon State Senate]]<br/>from the 9th district
|term_start1  = 1965
|term_end1    = 1978
|office2      = Member of the<br/>[[Oregon House of Representatives]]<br/>from [[Washington County, Oregon|Washington County]]
|term_start2  = 1959
|term_end2    = 1964
|birth_name   = Victor George Atiyeh
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1923|02|20}}
|birth_place  = [[Portland, Oregon]], U.S.
|death_date   = {{death date and age|2014|07|20|1923|02|20}}
|death_place  = [[West Haven-Sylvan, Oregon]], U.S.
|restingplace = [[River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)|River View Cemetery]]
|spouse       = {{marriage|[[Dolores Atiyeh|Dolores Hewitt]]|1944}}
|children     = 2
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education    = [[University of Oregon]]
}}

'''Victor George Atiyeh''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|t|iː|j|ə}}; February 20, 1923 – July 20, 2014) was an American politician who served as the [[List of Governors of Oregon|32nd governor of Oregon]] from 1979 to 1987. He was also the first elected governor of [[Middle Eastern Americans|Middle Eastern]] descent and of [[Syrian people|Syrian]] descent in the United States.<ref name=jointres24>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2005sjr0024ses.html|title=Senate Joint Resolution 24: Oregon Laws 2005|publisher=Oregon Legislature|date=August 3, 2005|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212132558/http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2005sjr0024ses.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Philip|last1=Harsham|first2=Robert|last2=Azzi|url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197502/arabs.in.america-the.native.sons.htm|title=Arabs in America: The Native Sons|journal=Saudi Aramco World|date=March–April 1975|volume=6|number=2|access-date=September 8, 2007|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183755/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/197502/arabs.in.america-the.native.sons.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Atiyeh was elected [[1978 Oregon gubernatorial election|in 1978]], defeating incumbent [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] governor [[Robert W. Straub]]. He was re-elected against future governor [[Ted Kulongoski]] with 61.6% of the vote [[1982 Oregon gubernatorial election|in 1982]], the largest margin in 32 years.<ref name=jointres24/> Prior to being elected governor, Atiyeh had served continuously in the [[Oregon Legislative Assembly|Oregon legislature]] since 1959, initially in the House and later in the Senate.

As of {{year}}, Atiyeh is the most recent Republican to have held the office of Governor of Oregon to date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon |url=https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=National Governors Association |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421015951/https://www.nga.org/former-governors/oregon/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Atiyeh's parents, George Atiyeh and Linda Asly, immigrated to the United States from [[Al-Husn, Homs|Amar al-Husn]], Syria, and [[Beirut]], Lebanon, respectively.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pulera|first=Dominic|year=2004|title=Sharing the Dream: White Males in Multicultural America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Victor+Atiyeh+Beirut&pg=PA33|url-status=live|page=33|publisher=A&C Black |isbn=9780826416438|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806071019/https://books.google.com/books?id=SVoAXh-dNuYC&dq=Victor+Atiyeh+Beirut&pg=PA33}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Atiyeh Brothers and Portland's Royal Rosarians|url=https://www.royalrosarians.com/page/historic-relationship-atiyeh-brothers|url-status=live|website=Royal Rosarians|access-date=June 1, 2021|archive-date=June 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616134847/https://royalrosarians.com/page/historic-relationship-atiyeh-brothers}}</ref> Atiyeh's father came through [[Ellis Island]] in 1898 to join his brother Aziz's carpet business. Atiyeh's mother's family belonged to the [[Antiochian Orthodox Church]] though Atiyeh would join the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] later in life.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Guggemos |first1=Eva |title=Atiyeh! |date=October 3, 2013 |publisher=Pacific University Libraries |url=https://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=mono |access-date=May 31, 2018 |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119091902/https://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=mono |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Atiyeh grew up in Portland, Oregon, attending Holladay Grade School and [[Washington High School (Portland, Oregon)|Washington High School]].<ref name=oreg-2014jul20>{{cite news|last1=Mapes|first1=Jeff|title=Republican Vic Atiyeh, who guided Oregon through economic upheaval, dies at 91|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html|access-date=July 21, 2014|newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|date=July 20, 2014|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902100323/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He spent two years at the [[University of Oregon]] in [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], where he played guard for the [[Oregon Ducks football]] program and became a regional leader in the [[Boy Scouts of America]].<ref name=arcwebbio>{{cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx|title=Governor Victor G. Atiyeh's Administration: Biographical Note|publisher=Oregon Secretary of State|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=December 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205014736/https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> When his father died, Atiyeh dropped out of college and took over his family's rug and carpet business, Atiyeh Brothers.<ref name=arcwebbio/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://atiyehbros.com/about-atiyeh/history/|title=History|publisher=Atiyeh Bros.|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=December 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231929/http://atiyehbros.com/about-atiyeh/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Governor victor atiyeh meeting.jpg|thumb|Governor Atiyeh (2nd from left) meeting with delegation in [[Oregon State Capitol]], 1980]]
Atiyeh served as a member of the [[Oregon House of Representatives]] for [[Washington County, Oregon|Washington County]] from 1959 to 1964 and in the [[Oregon State Senate]] for the 9th district from 1965 to 1978.<ref name="Ellis Island">{{cite web|title=Hon. Victor G. Atiyeh|url=http://www.neco.org/awards/recipients/atiyeh_victor.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302195525/http://neco.org/awards/recipients/atiyeh_victor.html|archive-date=March 2, 2012|work=Ellis Island Medals of Honor|publisher=NECO, Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Archives West: Victor Atiyeh Papers, 1958-1996|url=http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv87927|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=archiveswest.orbiscascade.org|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804004726/http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv87927|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Governor of Oregon ===
In [[1974 Oregon gubernatorial election|1974]], Atiyeh ran for governor and lost to Democrat [[Robert W. Straub]].<ref name="ohs">{{cite web|title=Governor Victor G. Atiyeh|url=http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm|work=Focus|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=September 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915094310/http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref> After defeating former governor [[Tom McCall]] in the primary, Atiyeh ran against Straub again in the [[1978 Oregon gubernatorial election|1978 election]], but won this time with 55&nbsp;percent of the vote.<ref name="ohs" /> He was the first [[Arab American]] to be elected as a U.S. governor.<ref name=oreg-2014jul20 />

In [[1982 Oregon gubernatorial election|1982]], Atiyeh won re-election to a second four-year term, winning 61.4% of the vote over Democrat [[Ted Kulongoski]] - the largest victory margin in 32 years for a gubernatorial election in Oregon.<ref name="Ellis Island" /> Atiyeh carried all 36 counties in the state.

As governor, Atiyeh established new public safety programs for Oregon's traditional fishing and lumber trades.<ref name=ohs/> He provided incentives to bring new industries to the state to diversify the economy, including the opening of a trade office in [[Tokyo]], Japan, Oregon's first overseas trade office.<ref name=ohs/> He launched a worldwide tourism initiative and worked towards the designation of the [[Columbia River Gorge]] as a national scenic preservation area.<ref name="Ellis Island"/> These efforts earned him the nickname "Trader Vic."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trader Vic · heritage |url=https://heritage.lib.pacificu.edu/s/atiyeh/page/governor-tradervic |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=heritage.lib.pacificu.edu |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123093457/https://heritage.lib.pacificu.edu/s/atiyeh/page/governor-tradervic |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, the international concourse at [[Portland International Airport]] is dedicated to him and contains a statue of him.<ref>    {{cite journal |last=Foss |first=Christopher |date=2017 |title="I wanted Oregon to have something": Governor Victor G. Atiyeh and Oregon-Japan Relations |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5403/oregonhistq.118.3.0338 |journal=[[Oregon Historical Quarterly]] |volume=118, No. 3 |issue=Fall 2017 |pages=338-365 |doi=10.5403/oregonhistq.118.3.0338 |access-date=2024-03-03|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Atiyeh helped establish a statewide food bank, which was the nation's first.<ref name="Ellis Island"/> He also worked to raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and signed new laws against the practice.<ref name=arcwebbio/><ref name=ohs/> He chaired the [[Republican Governors Association]] and was the [[Republican National Convention]]'s floor leader for President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/23/us/convention-dallas-republicans-some-republican-governors-fear-reagan-ignoring.html|title=Convention in Dallas: The Republicans; Some Republican Governors Fear Reagan is Ignoring Them|author=Roberts, Steven V.|date=August 23, 1984|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804003618/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/23/us/convention-dallas-republicans-some-republican-governors-fear-reagan-ignoring.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Volunteer and charitable work===
Atiyeh had a long relationship with [[Forest Grove, Oregon|Forest Grove]]-based [[Pacific University]], serving as a trustee and trustee emeritus and accepting an honorary doctorate from the university in 1996. He donated a trove of his memorabilia to the university library in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-forest-grove/2011/05/former_oregon_governor_vic_atiyeh_donates_collection_of_memorabilia_to_pacific_university_library.html|title=Former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh donates collection of memorabilia to Pacific University Library|first=Joe|last=Lang|date=May 25, 2011|work=[[The Oregonian]]|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212041845/http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-forest-grove/2011/05/former_oregon_governor_vic_atiyeh_donates_collection_of_memorabilia_to_pacific_university_library.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Later career===
[[File:Victor G. Atiyeh 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Atiyeh in 2012]]
After leaving office, Atiyeh became an international trade consultant.<ref name="arcwebbio" />

In 2006, Atiyeh co-chaired the "Yes on 49" campaign, supporting [[Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004)#Measure 49|Ballot Measure 49]], along with [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democratic]] former governor [[Barbara Roberts]], former and future governor [[John Kitzhaber]], and then-governor [[Ted Kulongoski]]. He solicited a $100,000 donation to the campaign from [[Phil Knight]], CEO of [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]].<ref>{{cite news|date=October 6, 2007|title=Nike co-founder backs Measure 49 with $100,000|publisher=[[KGW]]|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_100607_news_knight_measure_49.14423cc54.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107133043/http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_100607_news_knight_measure_49.14423cc54.html|archive-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Atiyeh lived in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] with his wife, [[Dolores Atiyeh|Dolores (''née'' Hewitt)]], whom he married on July 5, 1944.<ref name="arcwebbio" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Pacific University Archives Exhibits &#124; * Victor Atiyeh Collection * : Dolores Atiyeh|url=http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|access-date=July 21, 2014|publisher=Exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106050923/http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|url-status=dead}}</ref> They had two children, Tom and Suzanne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dolores Atiyeh|url=http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|access-date=December 28, 2013|work=Victor Atiyeh Collection|publisher=Pacific University Archives|archive-date=November 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106050923/http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh/life/dolores-atiyeh|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dolores Atiyeh died on August 29, 2016, in Portland at the age of 92.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Theen|first1=Andrew|date=August 29, 2016|title=Dolores Atiyeh, wife of former Oregon governor, dies at 92|work=The Oregonian/OregonLive|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/dolores_atiyeh_wife_of_former.html|access-date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921030443/http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/08/dolores_atiyeh_wife_of_former.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Health and death===
On August&nbsp;31, 2005, Atiyeh underwent [[quadruple bypass surgery]]; he drove himself to [[Providence St. Vincent Medical Center|St. Vincent Medical Center]] after suffering chest pains. Atiyeh was noted for his [[fiscal conservative|fiscal conservatism]]; his spokesman noted that he had stopped on his way to the hospital to fill his car with gas, having observed the sharply rising prices. In the weeks following the surgery, Atiyeh was readmitted to the hospital for several brief stays after suffering shortness of breath and pain in his arms.<ref name=oreg-2014jul20/>

On July 5, 2014, Atiyeh fell at his home. He was admitted again to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was treated for [[internal bleeding]]; while he was briefly released, he was re-hospitalized after incurring an adverse reaction to pain medication, and died from [[kidney failure]] on July 20, at age 91.<ref name=oreg-2014jul20 /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Currie|first1=Carrie McAlice|last2=Staver|first2=Anna |url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2014/07/20/former-oregon-governor-vic-atiyeh-dead/12928255/ |title=Former Oregon Governor Vic Atiyeh dead at 91 |date=July 21, 2014|newspaper=[[Statesman Journal]] |location=Salem, Oregon|access-date=May 15, 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Victor Atiyeh}}
* [https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx Records of Governor Victor G. Atiyeh's Administration] (January 8, 1979 - January 12, 1987) from the [[Oregon State Archives]]
* [http://www.ohs.org/education/focus/governor_victor_atiyeh.cfm Biography] on [[Oregon Historical Society]] website
* [http://exhibits.lib.pacificu.edu/exhibits/show/atiyeh Victor Atiyeh Collection] of personal papers, Pacific University
* [http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/republican_vic_atiyeh_who_guid.html Obituary in ''The Oregonian'']

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tom McCall]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee [[Governor of Oregon]]|years=[[1974 Oregon gubernatorial election|1974]], [[1978 Oregon gubernatorial election|1978]], [[1982 Oregon gubernatorial election|1982]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Norma Paulus]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert D. Orr]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Republican Governors Association]]|years=1983–1984}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Dick Thornburgh]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert W. Straub|Bob Straub]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Oregon]]|years=1979–1987}}
{{s-aft|after={{nowrap|[[Neil Goldschmidt]]}}}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Oregon}}
{{Oregon Modern History}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atiyeh, Victor}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Oregon politicians]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls in the United States]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Oregon]]
[[Category:American politicians of Syrian descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent]]
[[Category:Burials at River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Deaths from kidney failure in the United States]]
[[Category:Members of the Oregon House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Oregon state senators]]
[[Category:Portland, Oregon, Republicans]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Oregon]]
[[Category:University of Oregon alumni]]
[[Category:Washington High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly]]