Los Altos resident honored at Oregon high school

By Rita Jamison, Special to the Town Crier

Longtime Los Altos resident Dan Moore was the state long jump champion in Oregon in 1958. He was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at South Salem High School.

The typical high school graduate doesn’t expect to be contacted by his alma mater again - not after 45 years. But Dan Moore is not typical.

Earlier this year, the longtime Los Altos resident received a letter from Laura Tiffin, the athletic director of Oregon’s South Salem High School. To commemorate its 50th year, the school planned to induct Moore into its inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame. Coaches, athletic directors, principals, and members of the community had reviewed records from the school’s first 25 years (1955-79). When a selection committee narrowed the list of nominees to 10, Moore’s name was among them.

His accomplishments as a student athlete had been remarkable.

In 1958 he won the state championship in the long jump with a school record leap of 23 feet, 10 1/2 inches, a record which still stands. That jump broke the state record by more than a foot and garnered him All-American recognition. He was twice the national Junior Olympic long jump champion.

But Moore did not limit himself to track. He also was the school’s career scoring leader in basketball and established a single-game record of 35 points.

At first, Tiffin’s letter posed a problem.

Because of family responsibilities, it appeared unlikely Moore would be able to attend the Oct. 2 ceremony.

However, not only did his family insist he go, but they wanted to go along.

Difficulties were overcome and he attended with a cheering section of 17 family members. Among them was Moore’s 92-year-old father, Marion “Gus” Moore. He had been president of the board the year the school was built and his name appears on a plaque at the front of the school.

“It was a delightful time,” Dan Moore said, “hooking up with people I hadn’t seen in 45 years.”

After graduation from South Salem High, Moore accepted a track scholarship to Stanford University, where he continued to excel.

He set a school long jump record of 25-9 1/2, was an All American pick and twice won an NCAA medal. He ranked seventh in the world in the long jump in 1962 and was Pacific 8 Conference long jump champion in ‘62 and ‘63.

“It was a good experience,” said Moore, expressing particular admiration for Payton Jordan, the U.S. Olympic coach in 1968.

Although he had been a pre-med student for two years, in his heart Moore wanted to coach. After graduation, he coached track and cross country at Los Altos High School for two years.

“I had some wonderful kids there and really good teams. Some did so well, their records are still standing,” he said.

To supplement his teacher’s income, Moore sold insurance part time.

Because he also recognized the entrepreneurial attitude in his nature, when the opportunity came to go into business for himself, he took it.

“It proved to be a real blessing,” he said.

Moore added an office complex to his home, where he has his own insurance and estate planning business. It put him more in control of his time and future and enabled him to care for his wife, Elaine, who had developed multiple sclerosis.

Moore met Elaine Walker, the sister of a teammate, while they were both students at Stanford. All four of their children, Connie, Laura, Michelle and Ben are graduates of Los Altos High. Through Elaine, he was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and became a member less than a year after their wedding in 1963. He now serves the congregation of the Los Altos Ward as a priesthood leader.

“Dan is one of those people,” Tiffin said, “you’re proud to say went to your school.”