(Bryan Brenize -- The Beacon)
By Luke Riela, Staff Writer -- riela14@up.edu
When Louis Masson started teaching at UP in 1970, there was no Pilot House, Mago Hunt Theater or Chiles Center. The cost of an average house was $27,000 and a number of Masson's current colleagues weren't even born yet.
"On the one hand, the campus looks quite different," Masson said. "On the other hand, it's basically the same."
Masson has written books, contributed frequently to Portland Magazine and aided in the creation of the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Writers Series.
His latest accomplishment was achieving emeritus status as he will retire this May.
"I will finally have the time to read the books I want to read," Masson said.
Freshman Hayley Moore, who is taking Introduction to Literature with Masson, is glad to be in his class.
"I feel really fortunate to have gotten into his class because he's shed such a good light on literature for me," Moore said. "I've explored short stories in such a great way."
According to Moore, Masson addresses his students as his friends and sits among them during class. He also has a fantastic sense of humor.
Moore recalls Masson talking about his office hours: "If you ever come to my office – no, I will not share my Absinthe with you."
According to Bill Reed, UP's Events Director, Masson has always been a very friendly and social presence.
"He is famous for wandering the halls and stopping to chat with everyone," Reed said. "There's no reason why the university should assign him an office because he's never in it."
Reed says they spend at least 10 minutes a day talking about subjects from world events to books they are reading.
"We've gotten to be pretty good friends over the years," Reed said.
One aspect of teaching at UP Masson finds interesting is the ever revolving door of students who take his classes.
"It's an adventure each time walking into class," Masson said. "It's a new batch of wonderful young people."
After 41 years of new students, Masson appreciates talking with graduated students.
"I've been getting notes from old students, and it's been really humbling to hear from them," Masson said.
Masson has also taught different generations of families.
"I'm now teaching the children of people I taught years ago," Masson said. "A student will look familiar, and after class (the student) will say, ‘My mom says hello.'"
Masson hasn't just had an impact on students, but also helped the school through financial turmoil in the 1970s. According to Reed, Masson and other faculty members would go to the president's office to discuss campus matters.
"He understands how the place works and when to advocate for change," Reed said.
Despite his lengthy UP career, Masson was not always an Oregonian. Masson grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New York before getting the job offer at the University of Portland.
"I had never been west of Buffalo," Masson said. "My father always wanted to come out west – he said it was God's country. I ended up beating him there."
Masson lives three miles from campus and has lived there for around 30 years.
"It's been the perfect place, a wonderful place to raise children," Masson said.
Like his house, Reed joked that Masson hasn't switched up his house or his wardrobe in awhile. According to Reed, Masson takes good care of his clothes and many recognize him as quite a fancy dresser.
"He's a very dapper dresser, he's frankly a clothes horse," Reed said. "He will look like he's about to go fishing one day, and the next day he will look like he's playing croquet."
Masson will now have time to read all the books that have been waiting for his upcoming retirement.
"It will be the first time in 65 years I haven't gone to school in September," he said.
Louis Masson and student Yasutoka Okayama in the late 1970s in Howard Hall. Masson keeps in touch with previous students and has also taught different generations of families. (Photo courtesy of Louis Masson)
