Yraguen gains top honors
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 1:40 PM PST
Andy Gates | Argus Observer
VALE
The Honorable Francisco Yraguen is slated to receive an award Thursday in Portland from the Oregon State Bar for public service at the Oregon State Bar Annual Awards Dinner.
On Monday, Yraguen, 66, Vale, said he felt “honored” and “surprised” to be receiving the Oregon State Bar President's Public Service Award.
However, Yraguen's resume conveys a sense of modesty to his sentiment of surprise.
Balancing judicial work with civic pursuits, Yraguen has hardly slowed down in the community and the court since he retired as Malheur County's presiding judge July 1, 2000.
After he became a senior judge in 2001, Yraguen did pro bono work on a yearly basis for foundations, clubs, individuals and the judicial department.
Yraguen has served on the Oregon Indigent Defense Committee since 2005.
From the Boy Scouts of America to the Vale Future Farmers of America Scholarship Foundation Board to Vale's Grace Lutheran Church, Yraguen has donated much of his time to the community of Vale, where he was raised.
Since 1974, Yraguen played various roles in the Boy Scouts of America, and he is currently a Cub master after having received the Scout's Key, Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.
Still a member of the Vale FFA Scholarship Foundation Board - as the secretary and treasurer for the foundation - Yraguen has helped raise more than $260,000 for educational scholarships since 1992.
Yraguen is one of Oregon's 75 Circuit Court Senior Judges eligible for temporary assignment, according to the Oregon Blue Book.
Yraguen served as Malheur County Presiding Judge from 1996 until he retired in 2000.
The awards dinner Thursday is sold out and will be held at the Benson Hotel in Portland.
And, Yraguen said this will be his first time at the presentation.
Other awards that will be distributed Thursday include: OSB Award of Merit, OSB President's Affirmative Action Award, OSB President's Membership Service Award, OSB President's Special Award of Appreciation, and the Edwin J. Peterson Professionalism Award.
