Columbia Basin College Athletic Hall of Fame
Ron East attended Lincoln High School in Portland where he participated in football, wrestling, and track. He was the state’s Javelin champion as a senior.
East accepted a scholarship to Oregon State University, but after being considered too small to eventually become a starter, he decided to leave school and enlist in the Marine Forces Reserve. After boot camp he decided to transfer to Columbia Basin College where he received All-Conference honors as a defensive tackle and helped his team go undefeated on the way to a conference championship.
In 1966 Ron took his talents to Montana State University where he helped his team win the Big Sky championship and was recognized with All-Conference honors. East also claimed a Big Sky Conference javelin championship as a member of the track team at Montana State.
The man deemed too small to ever become a starter at Oregon State then embarked on a ten-year career in the NFL. Signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 1967, East played in Super Bowl V for the Cowboys. The Cowboys’ Hall of Fame head coach Tom Landry said Ron East was the most aggressive player he ever coached.
East went on to play for the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks.
In 1994 Ron East was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame, and in 1999 East was inducted into the Montana State University Hall of Fame.
