Legendary rodeo grounds display winning new scoreboard
PENDLETON, Ore. – One hundred year birthdays don’t come around very often, and Pendleton gets to celebrate two of them this year. Pacific Power is sharing its own centennial milestone of service in the Pendleton area with the legendary Pendleton Round-Up.
Leveraging the common birthdays, Pacific Power is contributing $35,000 toward the new state-of-the-art scoreboard with video replay capability currently being installed at the newly renovated Round-Up Grounds. The scoreboard will be in place and operating in time for the Round-Up which takes place the second full week of September.
Pacific Power worked with local leaders to select this birthday gift, a legacy gift for the Pendleton area to commemorate 100 years of lighting up local homes and businesses. A gathering 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 23 at the Round-Up Grounds will dedicate this gift and unveil the bronze plaque that will be placed when the scoreboard is completed.
Pendleton was one of four communities originally served when Pacific Power & Light Company was incorporated June 16, 1910. Others were Astoria, Ore., and Walla Walla and Yakima, Wash. The first Pendleton Round-Up was held Sept. 29, 1910.
“The Round-Up is very delighted to share a birthday with a company like Pacific Power, that’s been lighting the trail for 100 years,” said Round-Up President Randy Severe. “This new scoreboard, complete with a big screen, will greatly enhance spectators’ views of the Round-Up activities. Reaching our 100th Round-Up is a great honor for us, and it’s significant that Pacific Power will play a role in lighting up the new records being set, on the new scoreboard, for many years to come.”
“We are proud to have grown up with the Pendleton community and with the legendary Pendleton Round-Up, so iconic to the community and region,” said Pat Reiten, president, Pacific Power. “At Pacific Power, we always know that we exist because of our customers and that we are only as strong as the communities we serve. We know this new scoreboard will be appreciated and well-used for many years to come, by the Round-Up, high school football and all the other activities that take place at these facilities year-round.”
About Pacific Power
In 2010, Pacific Power celebrates 100 years serving customers and communities. From our beginnings — serving 7,000 customers in four Northwest communities — Pacific Power now provides electric service to almost 730,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. Our goal is to provide our customers with value for their energy dollar, and safe, reliable electricity, for another 100 years. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, with 1.7 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net.
About The Pendleton Round-Up
The Pendleton Round-Up is held annually the second full week of September in Pendleton, Ore. It is the world’s largest four-day rodeo and this year will be held from Sept. 15-18. The Round-Up began in 1910 and is recognized as one of the oldest and most prestigious rodeos in the world. It was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s 2003 Large Outdoor Rodeo Committee of the Year. A week full of activities, including parades, concerts, a two-night PBR bull-riding competition, barbecues, dances, games of chance and numerous other events begin Saturday, Sept. 11. For more background information about the Pendleton Round-Up and its many ancillary events, visit www.pendletonroundup.com.
About Pacific Power Centennial Legacy Projects
In recognition of 100 years of service, Pacific Power is providing its original four communities with a lasting gift, a Legacy gift. Working with local community leaders, the following projects have been identified:
- Astoria, Ore. – Community tree planting and restoration of the historic Shively Fountain.
- Pendleton, Ore. – New scoreboard for Pendleton Round-Up, also celebrating a centennial in 2010.
- Walla Walla, Wash. – The new “Huff ‘n Puff” sustainability center at the Children’s Museum of Walla Walla.
- Yakima, Wash. – A new portion of the Yakima Greenway Trail adjacent to Pacific Power’s former Naches Hydroelectric Plant.
