Robert “Barge” Ellsberg ’65

Highlights

Fall 1965 Cal Beta Pledge Class. Father was Cal Alpha at Stanford
Author of “In the Belly of the Golden Bear”, his 90+ page memoir of the five years (1965 to 1969) he spent at U.C. Berkeley and SAE Cal Beta
Cal Crew team – Rowed in 68 Olympic Trials. VP of Big C Society and a Californian
Cal Head Cheerleader – Featured in Jan 69 Sports Illustrated
Lived in chapter house for five years including grad school. EA Spring 1969
After graduating from Cal, received Masters in Criminal Justice from CSU Sacramento

Career

One year in Army as 1st Lt.
Three years in Oakland Police Department followed by three more years training criminal justice professionals in the South Bay
Moved to Astoria, OR. Taught police, fire and first responders for 30 years
Elected to Astoria City Council, Clatsop County Commissioner, and Astoria School Board
Three times named Clatsop Community College teacher of the year
Coached high school teams in crew and track & field since 1970. At Astoria H.S. since 1982. His athletes have earned over 60 state medals. One of his discus throwers (Laura Bobek, Univ. of Oregon) finished 3rd in the 2014 NCAA track & field championships
Named Clatsop County Citizen of the Year “George Award” in 1993
Chairman of Oregon Association of Criminal Justice Educators

Personal

Active senior athlete. Has won dozens of medals in State Games Track and two in National Championships
Written three other books including “Fishing with Small Fry: How to Hook Your Kids on Fishing”
Award-winning newspaper columnist
Married (to sister of Cal Beta Clark Johnson) with two adult sons
Both sons graduated from University of Oregon
Avid hunter and fisherman