# Vic Backlund

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{{Short description|American politician and coach}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Vic Backlund
| state_house         = Oregon
| district            = [25th](/source/Oregon's_25th_House_district)
| term_start          = January 11, 1999
| term_end            = August 5, 2005
| predecessor         = [Peter Courtney](/source/Peter_Courtney)
| successor           = [Kim Thatcher](/source/Kim_Thatcher)
| birth_name          =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1936|9|12}}
| birth_place         = [Coquille, Oregon](/source/Coquille%2C_Oregon)
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| party               = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| spouse              =
| education           = 
}}
'''Victor Lee “Vic” Backlund''' (born September 12, 1936) is an American politician who served as a member of the [Oregon House of Representatives](/source/Oregon_House_of_Representatives) representing [Keizer](/source/Keizer%2C_Oregon) for three terms.

==Athletic career==
Backlund grew up in [Bandon, Oregon](/source/Bandon%2C_Oregon), attending [Bandon Senior High School](/source/Bandon_Senior_High_School) where he played baseball, football, and basketball, [lettering](/source/Letterman_(sports)) 11 times. He graduated as Valedictorian in 1954. He attended college at [Willamette University](/source/Willamette_University) where he continued to play three sports and lettered 10 times. He went on to play minor league baseball. In 1960, Backlund enlisted in the U.S. Army reserves and retired from baseball. He started coaching JV football and JV baseball in 1961 at [North Salem High School](/source/North_Salem_High_School_(Salem%2C_Oregon)). He transitioned to [McNary High School](/source/McNary_High_School) in 1965 upon its opening as a social studies teacher and football coach. He led the baseball team to 14 state playoffs and is regarded as McNary's best ever coach and one of the best High School coaches in Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SK-Beacons - Vic Backlund |url=https://www.skbeacons.com/the-honorees/2021-22-honorees/vic-backlund |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.skbeacons.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was [The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)'s 1989 Coach of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willamette University |url=https://www.wubearcats.com/hof/athletes/backlund?view=bio |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Willamette University |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilman |first=Mark |date=2022-07-30 |title=30 years later, McNary baseball celebrates with pride |url=https://markgilman.substack.com/p/30-years-later-mcnary-baseball-celebrates |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Gilman on Sports}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025}}

==Political career==
Backlund is described as a moderate Republican. He was the last Republican elected to the 33rd district, when in 2000 he ran unopposed to represent the Keizer district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cedar Mill News - November 2019 - We are Oregon House District 33 |url=https://cedarmillnews.com/legacy/1119/District33-intro.html |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=cedarmillnews.com}}</ref> Backlund was associated with the [Council of State Governments](/source/Council_of_State_Governments) in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2005 |title=CSG West Legislative Academy |url=https://archive.legmt.gov/bills/2005/Minutes/House/Exhibits/aph08a010.PDF}}</ref> Backlund won the 1982 Keizer first citizen award.<ref>{{Cite web|author-link=Keizer Chamber of Commerce|title=2024 Keizer Awards Nomina|url=https://keizerchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Keizer-First-Citizen-Nomination.pdf}}</ref> Backlund decided not to run for a fourth term in 2006, saying he wished to travel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HD25: Backlund won't run - BlueOregon |url=https://www.blueoregon.com/2005/12/hd25_backlund_w/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.blueoregon.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Backlund married his wife Karen Enberg (1938-2024), who he met in college, in 1959. He has two children with her, Valerie and Brett. He is a [Presbyterian](/source/Presbyterianism).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-11-29|title=Karen LoRee Backlund Obituary |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/obituaries/pore1014462|access-date=2025-04-30|website=statesmanjournal.com|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=backlu001vic Career stats from BaseballReference]
{{CongLinks|votesmart=23775}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backlund, Vic}}
Category:1936 births
Category:Living people
Category:Presbyterians from Oregon
Category:Republican Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:20th-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:People from Keizer, Oregon
Category:American athlete-politicians
Category:Sportspeople from Coos County, Oregon
Category:Willamette Bearcats baseball players
Category:Willamette Bearcats football players
Category:Willamette Bearcats men's basketball players

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vic Backlund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Backlund) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Backlund?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.