Klaus Engelhardt, professor of French and German, died in October 2024 at age 87. Originally from Germany, Engelhardt began teaching at Lewis & Clark in 1969 and remained at the college until his retirement in December 2002. He made many lasting contributions to L&C, including leading six overseas study programs: France in 1972 and 1978; Hungary in 1988 and 1992; Poland (with a side trip to Romania) in 1997; and Romania in 2001. He was often accompanied by wife Marie, son Roland, and daughter Marika Engelhardt BA ’00. While at Lewis & Clark, Engelhardt chaired the foreign languages and literatures department (now World Languages and Literatures) and launched Polyglot, the college’s world languages literary magazine.
William “Bill” Blount, a Lewis & Clark life trustee, died on January 5, 2025. He became a consultant to the Lewis & Clark’s Board of Trustees in 1993. He then joined the board as a trustee in 1994, serving until 2006 when he became a life trustee. In recognition of his support and commitment, a classroom in the James F. Miller Center for the Humanities was named in his honor. Blount served as a senior vice president and was a member of the Chairman’s Club at PaineWebber’s Portland office. He continued with the firm through its transition to UBS Financial Services, maintaining his role until his retirement.
Ronald “Ron” Ragen, a Lewis & Clark life trustee, died December 24, 2024. He served as a trustee of the college from 2000 to 2013 and board chair from 2008 to 2011. He was named a life trustee in 2013. Ragen was also a former member of the law school’s Board of Visitors. In 1992, he was named an honorary graduate of the law school. In 2011, Lewis & Clark awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his exceptional service and commitment. That same year, Ron and his wife, Lee, established the Ron K. and Lee B. Ragen Endowed Scholarship. Ragen created the Davis Wright Tremaine International Law Writing Award Competition at Lewis & Clark Law School, helping to raise the standard of legal writing and awareness of global legal issues. He was a lawyer with Davis Wright Tremaine from 1961 until his retirement in 2016.
