By Bob Woodle
Julie Brim-Edwards of Mt. Tabor was among 49 athletic achievers inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 18, She is the first six sport athlete among the 789 who have been inducted in the 115 year old athletic league’s Hall of Fame.
A 1979 graduate of Washington High, Brim-Edwards accumulated a total of 12 letters, four in basketball, two each in soccer, track, and softball and one each in volleyball and cross-country. She became a two-time, first team All-PIL selection in both soccer and softball as a junior and senior.
Graduating from Oregon State University in 1984, she was on the varsity soccer club.
“My first nine years in Portland schools was at Glencoe Elementary,” she said. “It was a K-8 with an inspiring and demanding PE teacher, Mr. Johnson, who was a lifelong inspiration to me and many other students.”
“Through community groups, I had an opportunity to run track, play basketball and softball. We also had legendary neighborhood pick-up football, softball and basketball games.”
“I was fortunate to enter high school in the wake of Title IX and had a full range of opportunities at Washington High School. I loved being on a team, the camaraderie, the discipline, laughter, punishing workouts, the competition…. pretty much everything.”
She says, “My parents were super supportive… my siblings and teammates helped sharpen my competitive spirit and skills. I was and remain grateful that Title IX opened a huge door for me and many other female student athletes.”
She has served at Nike as Senior Director of Global Government and Public Affairs from 2004 to the present and was elected Portland School Board Chair, 200-2004.
The founder or co-founder of PIL Fan Base, Nike School Innovation Fund, and 10 Great Fields, she’s the Board Chair of Oregon Business Association and board member of the Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Business Association and Oregon Business Council.
She also is a professional staff member for the US Senate Finance Committee, Oregon Legislature and was named to Portland Business Journal, Women of Distinction.
”I have carried forward many of the things that were central to my experience as a student athlete: team, perseverance, discipline, grit, hard work, fun, passion for the game and teammates, competitiveness, and gracious winning and losing (I try not to do that too often).”
As a parent and community member, middle school sports and better facilities have inspired me to work with others to assist Portland Public Schools in bringing sports opportunities to all middle schoolers in Portland.
“For the past 10 years I have led the 10 Great Fields effort to install a high quality track and field at every high school in Portland. The last one will be completed at Franklin this winter.”