Walt & Gretchen Barger Scholarship

Walt and Gretchen Barger bid farewell to their family and friends 11 months apart over this past year. They were devoted parents, grandparents, friends, and life-long Duck fans. They began their Duck journey as newlyweds in 1967 as students and their passion for all things U of O only grew from there. More important than U of O involvement was commitment to family and friends. They were blessed with deep, life-long friendships that spanned decades and brought immense joy and love to their lives.

Daughters Kim & Krissy were the centerpiece of Walt & Gretchen’s universe. Both followed their parents to the U of O. Kim’s studies led to a career in college athletic administration (although she now works for the Huskies). Krissy attended on a tennis scholarship and followed in her dad’s footsteps with a career in sales. They were loving and involved grandparents to Drew (20) and Katie (17). Drew is a current U of O student, making it a third-generation tradition.

A message from the family:

Hello Family & Friends,

Most of our best family memories centered around Oregon Athletics – bowl games, tennis victories, and epic tailgate parties at Autzen Stadium that spanned over forty years. To honor our mom and dad, and to celebrate their love for the Ducks, their friends and family, we are working towards a named scholarship in perpetuity honoring a female student-athlete at the University of Oregon. Mom and Dad were avid supporters of Women in Flight and the student-athlete mentoring program. They were always assigned to female student-athletes who became an extended part of our family. Please consider contributing at any level to help us secure this scholarship.

If you wish to make your contribution via check, please mail to the following address:

Duck Athletic Fund (Walt and Gretchen Barger Memorial)

2727 Leo Harris Parkway

Eugene, OR 97401 

Thank you for helping us honor our amazing parents by creating a lasting legacy.

Go Ducks!

Kim & Krissy

Please contact Chris Mueller at muellerc@uoregon.edu with any questions