DONOR SPOTLIGHT – DR. GERALD WARNOCK

By: Jordan Hasler

I was first introduced to Dr. Gerald and Margaret Warnock shortly after I began working for the SCI Foundation. While attending the 2016 Las Vegas Convention, I was seated at the hot table for the Saturday evening event. On my right were Dr. Gerald Warnock and his better half, Margaret, and on my left were Sandra and Mike McGinnis. I was overwhelmed to be sitting at a table where the Pathfinder Hunt was purchased for well over its stated value and on my left the McGinnis’ purchased the Dream Hunt for more than it was valued and donated it back to be sold again. It was a heck of an introduction to the convention and the organization.

I’ve been fortunate to spend a fair bit of time with the Warnock’s since that evening and am always excited to hear about their great experiences. Their life story and success are inspiring and give me great hope for my little family.

Talking to Margaret, I quickly realized that she wasn’t born here in the States. Margaret was born in Estonia, her mother and the children were able to escape to Austria shortly after the Russians invaded her homeland. There her mother fell in love with an American Soldier and they married and immigrated to the U.S.

Margaret and Gerald didn’t cross paths until 1957, just prior to Gerald becoming Dr. Gerald Warnock at the University of Oregon. They dated just a short time and were married in June of 1958. When asked what she feels has been her greatest achievement in life, Margaret will immediately tell you about her two daughters, Sue and Cynthia, their husbands and her five grandchildren. There is no arguing that Gerald and Margaret did something right when raising their children.

My favorite story from Dr. Warnock involves his first trip to Africa in 1957, where he and a friend each shot the Big 5 and numerous plains game while hunting in Kenya. It’s the type of adventure that I read and dreamt about as a young boy. Dr. Warnock put his international hunting pursuits on hold as he and Margaret built their family and their business. Epic Imaging was founded in 1964 and at the time of his retirement early this year, employed over 200 employees in four different locations.

Their first hunt together was in Sudan in 1971 where they hunted four of the Big 5 together. Since that initial hunt, Margaret has traveled the world with Dr. Warnock as they’ve pursued great adventures across all seven continents, including being at both the North and South Pole together.

Their list of contributions to SCI includes membership in the Hunter Legacy 100 Fund; they’ve recently joined the Foundation’s Lion and Shield Society at the Lion level; they’ve purchased the Pathfinder Hunt on two separate occasions. Their chapter participation and support has benefitted more than one chapter in the Northwest. Dr. Warnock has received more awards than I can name, but some of the highlights are the Weatherby Award, the SCI World Conservation and Hunting Award, the Golden Malek Award, the Ullman Magnum Award and many others.

Despite having achieved success in all aspects of their life, the Warnock’s aren’t stopping anytime soon and they have some exciting adventures in the works for 2018. I’m grateful for my association with the Warnock’s and feel fortunate that we have them on the Foundation’s side.