This oral history interview with Stan G. Terry was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Portland Motor Motel in Portland, Oregon, on May 18, 1982, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds’ name was Linda S. Brody. Jack Pement of the Oregon Journal newspaper was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. A transcript is available.

In this interview, Terry describes his childhood supporting himself by selling newspapers in Sacramento, California. He describes how he developed a gambling operation involving vending machines in Portland, and discusses his work as a pinball machine operator. He speaks about Portland Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee’s crackdown on all forms of gambling and how that affected his business. He compares Lee’s administration to other 1950s mayors, talks about his association with Portland crime boss Jim Elkins, and discusses how he joined the Teamsters Union in order to continue his pinball operation. He shares his experience of testifying before the U.S. Senate during the 1957 McClellan committee hearings on racketeering and organized crime, and discusses Portland’s bad reputation in the aftermath of those hearings. He then talks about apartment and office buildings that he owned in Portland, and about owning and operating the Portland Meadows Golf Course. He speaks about several lawsuits he brought against the city of Portland, and about his campaigns for various political offices, including Oregon governor and Portland mayor. He also talks about running a garbage collection business. He closes the interview by talking about other pinball operators in Portland and by discussing gambling on Las Vegas slot machines.