Gerry Frank speaks on Friday, July 23, at the dedication of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park as state Sen. Betsy Johnson, center, and Gov. Kate Brown listen.(Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
The faces in the crowd were familiar to many – the governor, the mayor, legislators, key Salem business leaders.
They all showed up on Friday, July 23, to celebrate the addition of a new public feature to downtown Salem – the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater.
And the man of the hour was there, along with his prodigious memory and his gentle gibes at those he knew – Gerry Frank.
“This is quite a day,” Frank said. “This building will provide prosperity and pride and years of fond memories.”
READ MORE: Gerry Frank celebrated at dedication for amphitheater bearing his name
Gerry Frank arrives at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett welcomes Gerry Frank to the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gerry Frank arrives at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown speaks at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the new The Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Renee Campbell, former Rotary club president and district governor, speaks at the dedication on Friday, July 23, for the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater at Riverfront Park (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gerry Frank shares a moment with Gov. Kate Brown on Friday, July 23, at the dedication of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park in Riverfront Park.(Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown, Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett and Chane Griggs, president of the Rotary Club of Salem, share a laugh at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the new The Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Former Gov. Ted Kulongoski attends the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the new The Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Chane Griggs, Rotary Club of Salem president, Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett, Gov. Kate Brown and state Sen. Betsy Johnson applaud at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gerry Frank accepts greetings on Friday, July 23, at the dedication of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront.(Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown and former Gov. Ted Kulongoski chat at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown talks with Kerry Tymchuk of the Oregon Historical Society at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gov. Kate Brown and Salem Mayor Chuck Bennett chat with guests at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Nephew Scott Frank greets uncle Gerry Frank at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Gerry Frank gets greetings from family friend Bill Hutchison at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Hazel Patton and former Salem Mayor Anna Peterson talk at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Don Lulay and Jane Frères chat at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Hazel Patton (left), Scott Hossner, former Salem Mayor Anna Peterson chat at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Larry Dalke of Dalke Construction, general contractor for the project, chats with Julie Tye at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Guests chat at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
Guests chat at the dedication on Friday, July 23, of the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
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Photographer Ron Cooper and his wife Penny moved to Salem in 1969 to take a job as photographer at the Oregon Statesman (later the Statesman Journal). Their three children, Monica, Kimberly, and Christopher, attended and graduated from Salem public schools. Cooper retired from the Statesman Journal in 2001 but, has continued his passion for photography in many ways, including as a photographer for the Salem Reporter.
