Bonneville Power Administration Hires Woody Guthrie To Sell Oregon

Bonneville Power Administration Hires Woody Guthrie To Sell Oregon

A little known fact about the BPA (Bonneville Power Administration) is that in May of 1941, they hired Woody Guthrie to promote their efforts.

They wanted to promote the administration in their dam building and cheap electricity to overcome public resentment of the dam.

Woodie Guthrie, (July 14, 1912 - October 31, 1967) was hired for 30 days in May of 1941, and in that time he wrote 26 songs, including "Roll on Columbia."  The promotion worked well, and the Bonneville Power Administration forged ahead to become the excellent company it is today.

Woodie Guthrie (for you youngsters) was a folk singer and political activist whose work has been recorded by singers like Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, and dozens of others.

We're proud of our state and can appreciate how Woodie Guthrie was so inspired by her outstanding beauty.