Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 759. RODNEY L. GLISAN Many direct and tangible forces in the development and upbuilding of Portland and the maintenance of its high civic standards are traceable to the efforts of Rodney L. Glisan, who ranks with the able attorneys of the city and with those men whose civic consciousness has resulted in effective work for upbuilding and progress in city and state. Portland has always been his home, and in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, Rodney L. Glisan is classed with the valued and prominent residents of the Rose City. There are many here yet who remember the period of his childhood and, thinking back over the years, can visualize him as a schoolboy, attending the Bishop Scott Academy. He was born April 3, 1869, his parents being Dr. Rodney and Elizabeth R. (Couch) Glisan, the former a leading member of the medical profession in Portland for many years, while the latter was a daughter of Captain John H. Couch, who became one of the founders of Portland, arriving in Oregon in the period of pioneer development. It was in 1880 that Rodney L. Glisan was enrolled as a student in the Bishop Scott Academy, which he attended for two years. He then went abroad for further study and entered the Ecole Protestante of Paris, France, which he attended through the scholastic year. With his return to America he became a student in the Hopkins grammar school of New Haven, Connecticut, there pursuing his studies until 1886, when he matriculated in Yale University, entering upon a four years' classical course, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1890. His law studies were pursued in the University of Oregon from 1890 until 1892 and after there winning the LL. B. degree he continued his preparation for the bar in the law department of Columbia University in New York city, where he gained the Master of Arts degree. He was admitted to practice as a member of the Oregon bar in 1892 and has since been active in his profession, devoting his attention largely to the law of real property and to the management of estates, several being now under his supervision. He has also become interested in business enterprises which feature in the city's development and upbuilding as well as being a source of substantial revenue to the individual stockholder. Along various lines of usefulness. Mr. Glisan has directed his efforts. In 1900 he became a member of the city council of Portland and during the succeeding year was its president. He was appointed a member of the executive board and thus served from 1903 until 1905 during the mayoralty of George H. Williams. He was on the street committee of the council and executive board and took a deep interest in the subject of street paving, visiting several cities on inspection tours. In 1901 he became a member of the State legislature and was also a member of the charter commission which formulated the city charter of Portland. In January, 1910, he became a member of the board of trustees of the Portland Chamber of Commerce and has done effective work for public benefit through that organization. He has always voted with the republican party and has taken a progressive stand upon many vital political questions. Mr. Glisan's active interest in athletics, too, has been manifest in many ways. He was a member of the first football team of the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club, of which he is a life member and of which he was at one time president. He has rowed in several association regattas and was president of the Portland Rowing Club, of which he is also a life member. He belongs to the University Club, is a life member of the Press Club, has membership in the Oregon Civic League, the Chamber of Commerce the Portland Realty Board and is as well a member of the Mazamas Club, a mountain-climbing organization. He likewise has held membership in the Sierra Club and the Canadian Alpine Club, and it has been said of him: He has always contended that the Pacific coast offers an unrivaled field of wonderful scenery and has for fifteen years spent the summer months in mountain climbing and tramping along the mountain ranges and coast. He has tramped the Oregon and California coast line from the Columbia river to the bay at San Francisco and has ascended nearly all of the prominent snow peaks through this territory. Recognizing the value of recreation, pleasure seeking, nevertheless, has been only one feature of his life. He has at all times recognized his responsibilities and obligations to his fellowmen and has labored effectively and earnestly for moral progress. He is now a senior warden in the Trinity Episcopal church, is a trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital and is serving on its executive board. The call of need always finds ready response in him and it has been by reason of his recognition of all life's duties, opportunities and responsibilities that he has ever enjoyed a high place in professional, social and church circles, making his life one of constantly expanding interest, activity and usefulness. When America entered the World war he was again alert to every duty, participating in all the bond drives and the Red Cross drives and serving on the legal advisory board. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.