2026 HOST VENUE
Before 1960, the eighteen-hole, public Salem Golf Club was the only local country club serving the Salem area. Ercel Kay owned and operated this attractive facility since 1928, and it served the community very well. However, its social facilities were very limited. In the early 1950's, there was a serious attempt to develop a private country club on the McNary property north of Keizer.
The Fircone Country Club was incorporated with the State of Oregon. Membership fees were put in escrow, but the money was eventually refunded when they failed to sell enough memberships by the deadline. The next organization effort began in 1959 and resulted in the successful formation of Illahe Hills Country Club. The seed of its formation originated through informal luncheon discussions at the Quisenberry Drug Store Restaurant near the Salem General Hospital.
The participants concluded that it would be best to form a private country club as a spinoff of a for-profit real estate subdivision. Furthermore, they decided that they should only select a site after the development company was financed and organized. In early March 1959, attorney Bruce Williams visited Dr. Owen Miller. During this visit, Bruce mentioned that he and his neighbor, Merritt Truax, had discussed this idea before. Eager to move forward, Bruce organized a meeting for March 26, 1959, where the three agreed on key principles and decided to involve more people. He requested Dr. Owen Miller to draft a document outlining their “drug store” concept as a foundation for the discussion. Excited by the potential of creating a local country club, they decided to invite others for a meeting on April 9, 1959, with the goal of forming a steering committee.
The April 17th meeting was led by Dr. Owen Miller. There, 27 people confirmed their interest in the exclusive local country club, with an additional 19 names submitted for others who were unable to attend. A promotional plan was distributed, but it became clear that more time was needed to finalize organizational details. As a result, they postponed the next general meeting, originally planned for May 1, 1959. In preparation, Bruce Williams, Merritt Truax, and Dr. Owen Miller met on April 22, 1959 to finalize the selection of the steering committee and plan the first official meeting.
On May 4, 1959, the newly formed steering committee held its first official meeting at Bruce Williams' home. Several key decisions were made, launching the organization. By May 11th, Bruce presented copies of the proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws. This solidified the groundwork for what would become a thriving lodge with a private golf course and premium country club amenities.
The April 17th meeting was led by Dr. Owen Miller. There, 27 people confirmed their interest in the exclusive local country club, with an additional 19 names submitted for others who were unable to attend. A promotional plan was distributed, but it became clear that more time was needed to finalize organizational details. As a result, they postponed the next general meeting, originally planned for May 1, 1959. In preparation, Bruce Williams, Merritt Truax, and Dr. Owen Miller met on April 22, 1959 to finalize the selection of the steering committee and plan the first official meeting.
On May 4, 1959, the newly formed steering committee held its first official meeting at Bruce Williams' home. Several key decisions were made, launching the organization. By May 11th, Bruce presented copies of the proposed articles of incorporation and bylaws. This solidified the groundwork for what would become a thriving lodge with a private golf course and premium country club amenities.