top of page

Our History

The Oregon Society of Radiologic Technologists is one of the oldest affiliate societies in the nation. 

Screen Shot 2025-04-26 at 3.41.15 PM.png

A Society in the Making

1923

The ARRT first started testing and registering X-ray Technnicians

1925

Alf Borquist was the first registered X-ray technician in Oregon

1931

The name was changed to Oregon Society of Radiographers.

​

A branch of the society was formed in Salem

1933 & 1934

Interstate meetings were held in Centralia, WA

1938

The name was changed again to Oregon Society of of X-Ray Technicians (OSXT).

​

During these years various individuals represented Oregon at the national meetings.

1943

The OSXT re-affiliated with the ASXT.

 

Mr. R. Walter Johnson, who was the first American Society counselor, and one of the original eleven charter members of the OSXT, was voted a life member.

1950

The state was divided into 9 districts. At this time there were 161 registered technicians in the OSXT.

The first recorded mention that the organization has an official bulletin, The Skiagram.

1953

The twenty fifth anniversary of the OSXT was held at a convention in Klamath Falls in April 1953 at the Willard Hotel and Oregon Technical Institute.

1928

Lavilla Perry and Alf Borquist were appointed to represent Oregon at the June 1928 convention of the American Society of X-ray Technicians (ASXT) in Chicago.

 

Perry and Borquist called a meeting in October of 1928 to discuss organizing a local society.

 

There were 10-12 X-ray technicians from between both Portland and Salem present at the meeting, and they set up a committee to prepare a constitution and by-laws.

 

The group met again in November to approve the constitution and by-laws. They also patterned an application after the one used by the ASXT and adopted the name Oregon Technicians Society of Roentgenology.

 

Eleven Charter Members: 

Selma Oehler (Salem,OR)

Kathryn Dutcher (Portland, OR)

Joseph Oubram (Portland, OR)

R. Walter Johnson (Portland, OR)

E. S. Newton (Salem, OR)

L. W. Williford (Portland, OR)

L. L. Wassel (Portland, OR)

Harriet Compton (Portland, OR)

Alf Borquist (Portland, OR)

Lavilla Perry (Salem, OR)

Naomi Hoel (Salem, OR)

  

Officers: 

President - Alf Borquist

Secretary - Lavilla Perry

Treasurer - R. Walter Johnson

  

Executive Committee: 

Chairman - E. S. Newton

Kathryn Dutcher

Harriet Compton

​

Meetings were held either quarterly or monthly.

1955

Alfred B. Greene, executive secretary of the American Registry of X-ray Technicians, was the principle speaker at the OSXT meeting in Eugene.

Two individuals from OSXT, Julian Denny and Neil Lyons, presented at the national ASXT convention in Boston.

1964

The names of the ASXT and OSXT appear to have changed to ASRT and OSRT in publications.
 

1966

Alice Sharp was one of the first 3 Oregon technologists registered in radiation therapy, at that time there were only 150 in the nation.

​

Former OSRT President Edna Wanke was President of the NW Conference and presided over their meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

118839577_3290099247712324_4418340309223175066_n.jpg

Life Members

Life members are special voting members who have rendered unusual service to OSRT. Their lasting impact is recognized through a unanimous vote of the entire Board of Directors. They shall have all rights, privileges and obligations of Active members. They shall pay no membership dues.

Randall Harp

Anne Warden

Cheryl Rue

Susan Castanette

Paula Merino

Barbara "Barb" Smith

Joyce Matthys

Michael Saker

Bart Pierce

Abigail Berman

Virginia Vanderford

Susan Putnam-Hopkins

Robbin Scriven

Bobbie Brown

The following life members are deceased but not forgotten for their monumentous impact on our society. May they rest in peace.

Aldeen Burdick

Naomi Hoel

Lavilla Perry

Bessie Reynolds

Algred "Al" Borquist

Walter Johnson

Lorraine Smith

Betty Palmer

Charles Fisk

Earl Newton

Edna Wanke

bottom of page