Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 417. RODNEY LAWRENCE GLISAN Rodney Lawrence Glisan was born April 3, 1869, in Portland and in both the paternal and maternal lines represents old and prominent families of the city. His father, Dr. Rodney Glisan, located here early in the '60s and rendered service of value to Portland through his skill as a physician, maintaining an office in the city until his death. He was a member of the staff of the Good Samaritan Hospital and one of the early lecturers of the Portland Medical College. His wife, Elizabeth R. (Couch) Gilson, was a daughter of Captain John H. Couch, one of the founders of Portland, and two of its streets were named in honor of the Couch and Glisan families. In 1880 Rodney L. Glisan became a pupil in the Bishop Scott Academy, which he left at the end of two years, and during 1882-83 received instruction in the Ecole Protestante of Paris, France. On returning to the United States he entered the Hopkins grammar school at New Haven, Connecticut, there remaining until 1886, and then matriculated in Yale University, from which he won the A. B. degree in 1890. He next took a two years' course in the University of Oregon, pursuing his law studies under Professor Thornton, and was awarded the degree of LL. B. in 1892. Not content with this knowledge, he went to New York city and in 1893 won the A. M. degree from Columbia University. In 1892 he had been admitted to the bar in Oregon and throughout his professional career practiced in Portland. His attention was chiefly given to realty law and to the management of estates. In 1917 he retired from practice and has since devoted his time to the supervision of several estates and he also shows great interest in the city's growth. Mr. Glisan is an adherent of the republican party and began his career as a public servant in 1900, when he became a member of the city council, of which he was chosen president during the succeeding year. During the mayoralty of George H. Williams, Mr. Glisan was appointed a member of the executive board, with which he was connected from 1903 until 1905. While identified with the street committee of the common council he devoted much thought and study to the subject of street paving and visited several cities on tours of inspection. In 1901 the state legislature appointed him a member of the commission which formulated tile city charter of Portland and his public service was productive of much good. It was in January, 1910, that he became one of the trustees of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, of which he was afterward made vice president, filling the office for several years. He was also selected as a trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital and became senior warden of Trinity Episcopal church. When America entered the World war he served on the legal advisory board and worked for the success of the Liberty bond campaigns and the Red Cross drives. He belongs to the Oregon Civic League, the Portland realty board, and holds a life membership in the Press Club and the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club. Of the last named organization he was at one time president and played on its first football team. The Portland Rowing Club, of which Mr. Glisan is also a life member, chose him as its executive head and he is likewise affiliated with the Arlington Club, the University Club, the Waverley Golf Club, the Portland Mazamas, composed of mountain climbers, the Sierra Club and the Canadian Alpine Club. An enthusiastic pedestrian, he has tramped along 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 in this region. Mr. Glisan has found leisure to enjoy life, at the same time conscientiously fulfilling all of its duties and obligations, and is a man whom to know is to esteem and admire. ******************* 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.