Lower Columbia College History ~ Brief Highlights from the 1980s
Lower Columbia College's fifth decade was marked by construction projects, the first salmon bake, and sports championships.

1980
Dr. Vernon 'Pete' Pickett became President.

1981
The First Federal Savings & Loan Building on the corner of Maple Street and 15th Avenue was purchased by LCC, it later became the Administration Building.

The Don Talley Vocational Building was dedicated.

Enrollment reached 4,742 students.

The baseball grandstand was constructed and the LCC baseball team won the NWAACC Championship.

1984 
The 50th anniversary celebration opened with an October salmon bake.

The fitness lab was constructed.

The LCC baseball team won the NWAACC Championship

LCC's Forensics team placed third in the nation.

LCC accounting student David Bogdon won the Association of College Unions International Chess Championship (beating U of O students). Bogdon and Mark Wills won the team competition.

1986
Major building remodels on Main, Applied Arts, Gym, Vocational and Science buildings.

1987
LCC welcomed the first computers to campus.

LCC received a $1.38 million National Science Foundation grant for computer equipment and training. 75 percent of the faculty became computer-literate.

The LCC Forensics team placed second in the nation.

The Hall of Fame was established. The first inductees included: Ernie Newt, Don Porter, Ned Berwind, William Brigman, Merrill Robison, Michael Steward, Hal Riney, Dr. James Ford, Robert Jordan, John Donahue, George Folquet, (deceased) Luella Henderson, Larry Staub, Claude Jones and Marlen Peterson.

1987-88
Linfield College began offering upper-division classes at LCC, allowing people to earn a bachelor's degree.