Tom '51 and Jean (Woest) Meicho '53

I met Jean Woest the beginning of my Junior year at Linfield on my first and last blind date. Let me share a little back ground. Jean was with her friend Grace Bowen in Cozine Hall. That was where new students and returning students picked up their sheets and pillow cases, blankets, bedspread, desk lamp and waste paper basket. Grace asked Jean, “Have you seen any good looking young men since you arrived on campus?” At that time I arrived and Jean replied, “Well, He’s not bad looking.” “I can fix you with a date as he is my boyfriend's bestfriend.” Grace asked Ralph to ask me if I would like to go on a blind date? When Ralph asked me, I said, “Yes.”

I was to meet her in Grover Hall. I was standing by the stairs waiting for her to come down, Suddenly I saw the heels, ankles, legs and a body in a gold dress. I knew that I was in love.

The date you ask? I took her to the fall convocation which was located at the First Baptist Church. The founder of Kraft Cheese was the speaker. That is all I can now recall. It was so hard not to stare at this beautiful woman sitting beside me.

We got married the following year September 1, 1950. I graduated from Linfield in June, moved to Berkeley, California from The American Baptist Seminary of the West and had a church in Spokane for two and half years, joined the staff at Linfield on February 1, 1957 and retired from the college in June 1993. Jean worked at Penny’s, In Berkeley, worked for the executive director of the Oakland YMCA. In Spokane, she worked in the human resource office of the Crescent Department Store. We raised two children. Both graduated from Linfield. When the kids started school, Jean worked for the McMinnville School District 40 for 26 years, retiring in June 1993. We have five Grandchildren. Last fall we celebrated our 62nd Wedding Anniversary by attending the Linfield's first home football game of the season where they beat Menlo College.