Transcript. This oral history interview with Cecil Edwards was conducted by Irvin Luiten from May 18 to 26, 1988. In the interview, Edwards discusses his family history and early life in Salem, Oregon, including his education and early interest in government. He then talks about his experiences working for the Oregon Legislature beginning in 1933, including the old Capitol building, which burned down in 1935; campaigns he worked on; and the role of lobbyists. He also talks about working as secretary for Governor Charles Sprague. Edwards then describes his service in the National Guard during World War II, particularly working with horses and dogs. He talks about returning to work in Oregon government after the war ended, including serving on the Racing Commission; being fired by Governor Mark Hatfield; lobbying for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association; and returning to the Legislature to work as a secretary. He discusses the numerous committees he was secretary for, including the agriculture committee, fish and game committee, and land-use board. Edwards next discusses his tenure as secretary of the Senate from 1965 to 1975, focusing on many of the legislators he worked with, including Clarence Barton, Debbs Potts, and Jason Boe. He also speaks at length about redistricting, as well as the duties of the secretary of the Senate and Senate rules.

A photograph of Gerry Frank judging the chocolate cake competition at the Oregon State Fair. Frank stands behind a counter covered with numerous chocolate cakes. He is using a fork to take a bite of a slice of cake. The tops of the cake are reflected in an angled mirror mounted to the top of the counter.

A photograph of Florence Neavoll, winner of the chocolate cake competition at the Oregon State Fair, standing with contest judge, Gerry Frank. Neavoll is holding her winning chocolate cake and first prize ribbon up on a plate as Frank takes a bite from a slice of the cake. This photograph was published in the August 29, 1979 edition of the Oregon Journal along with the recipe for the winning cake.

A black and white photograph of a corner of a preschool classroom. A little girl sits at a desk smiling at a line of five students in front of her. She is writing on a long piece of paper that falls off the front of her desk. Behind the line of students there is a Christmas tree decorated with paper chains and ornaments. A handwritten note on the back of the photograph reads: "Oregon State School for the Deaf Preschool classroom 1968-69". The Oregon State School for the Deaf was the name of the school from 1913-1989.

A young woman wears a traditional Mexican dress as she looks at the camera. Possibly taken at the Fiesta Mexicana celebration in Woodburn, Oregon. This image was likely taken by staff of the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News circa 1965 - 1968.

Oregon State Representative Grace Olivier Peck speaks on the House floor in favor of House Bill 1521, a bill requiring that labor camp owners contact health authorities when opening a camp. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on May 12, 1967.

Five cheerleaders stand in a row at a basketball game near Salem, Oregon. They all wear matching sweaters displaying the letter "C." A newspaper caption on a similar photograph taken at the same event identifies the cheerleaders as members of the Chemawa Indian School rally squad. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 21, 1966.

Photograph of an elementary school building in Aumsville, Oregon. A sign over the entrance reads, "Aumsville Grade School Dist. 11C." This image was likely taken by staff of the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News circa 1965 - 1968.

A man sits on the front steps of the Valley Migrant League's Woodburn Opportunity Center in Woodburn, Oregon. His hands are folded and he looks off to the left. This image was likely taken by staff of the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News circa 1965 - 1968.

An adult and a young man stand in front of the Valley Migrant League's Woodburn Opportunity Center in Woodburn, Oregon. A sign on the building behind them reads, "Woodburn Opportunity Center, Open Daily, 12:30pm to 9:30." This image was likely taken by staff of the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News circa 1965 - 1968.

Photograph of a school building in Silverton, Oregon. A sign over the entrance reads, "Silver Crest School Dist. No. 93.C." This image was likely taken by staff of the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News circa 1965 - 1968.

Photograph of several residences which are part of a low income, public housing project. Likely taken in Independence or West Salem, Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 22, 1968.

Donato Amayo drives a machine at the Avery Carpet House in Salem, Oregon, where he is enrolled in an On-the-Job Training Program. The program is offered by the Valley Migrant League and funded by the Department of Labor. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on August 4, 1967.

Oregon State Senator Don Willner wears glasses and a suit and tie, and smiles at the camera. He is advocating for the rights of migrant laborers by supporting the passage of Bill 1521 in the Oregon State Legislature. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on June 23, 1967.

Don Wilcox, the first editor of the Opportunity News, sits at his desk at the newspaper's office. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on March 31, 1967 as part of an article announcing Wilcox's resignation and upcoming move to New York.

Virgil Kubin wears overalls, a jacket, and a baseball cap as he stands in front of a new cabin on his property in Salem, Oregon. The cabin was built to house migrant farm workers. Kubin is a cherry grower who depends upon seasonal migrant labor. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on March 17, 1967.

Photograph of 2 rows of four-plex buildings at Pioneer Village, a federally funded housing project in West Salem, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on February 17, 1967.

Secretary of State Tom McCall meets with students who recently graduated from an adult education class offered by the Valley Migrant League. This visit was part of a field trip the class took to the state capital in Salem, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 31, 1965.

Secretary of State Tom McCall meets with students who recently graduated from an adult education class offered by the Valley Migrant League. The visit was part of a field trip the class took to the state capital in Salem, Oregon. In the background, from left to right, are class officers Juanita Constante (in front of window), Ray Anderson, and Tom Perry. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 31, 1965.

Rogelio Medina, owner of the Mexico Lindo Curios Shop, stands in his shop in Woodburn, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 2, 1966.

A man in a welding class lifts his helmet and looks at the camera at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. He is part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 21, 1966.

Three men work in a welding class at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. They are photographed from behind. They are part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 26, 1966.

A man in a welding class lifts his helmet and smiles at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. He is part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 26, 1966..

A man oversees a compressor used in the harvesting of hops near Salem, Oregon. The hops have been dumped into this compressor, where they will be covered by waterproof paper and a layer of burlap. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 9, 1966.

Two farm workers move a large pile of hops onto a conveyor belt for transport to a dry kiln. Handwritten note on the back of the print identifies the workers as, "Ambrosio Gonzales, Carlos Oazares(?)." This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 9, 1966.

A little boy wearing traditional Mexican clothing rides on the hood of a car during a parade at Fiesta Days, known today as the Woodburn Fiesta Mexicana, in Woodburn, Oregon. He holds both hands up in the air. A ribbon in his right hand reads, "1966 Woodburn Fiesta Days Participant." This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 2, 1966.

Elvira Carbajal wears a crown and rides on the back of a car during a parade. She is queen of Fiesta Days, known today as the Woodburn Fiesta Mexicana, in Woodburn, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 2, 1966.

Three girls wear traditional Mexican dresses at Fiesta Days, known today as the Woodburn Fiesta Mexicana, in Woodburn, Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 2, 1966.