Athlete 1986 - 1990
Paul Asher of the Class of 1990 was a stellar baseball and football player for the Wildcats, earning eight total varsity letters.
As a wide receiver in football, Asher was a three-time all-Northwest Conference selection. He was also honored as Linfield’s most valuable baseball player following the 1989 season, and the Linfield student newspaper named him to the 1980s All-Decade Team.
He ranks sixth on the school’s career receiving yards list with 1,906 yards, and ranks among the top 10 in four additional statistical offensive categories.
But Asher’s proudest memory of playing football came in 1987, when the Wildcats began the season with just one victory in their first five games and had to win the final four games to keep alive Linfield’s streak of consecutive winning seasons.
“We overcame some pretty great obstacles and really came together,” he said.
Asher was also a four-year letterman in baseball. In his four years with the program, Linfield never finished below third in the conference standings, including first-place finishes in 1988 and 1989.
As an outfielder, Asher was an all-NWC first team selection in 1990. His 155 career games played are the third-most in Linfield history, and his career stolen bases record of 46 stood until the 2010 season. He also ranks high in three other categories, including career games started, career RBIs and career runs scored.
Asher most enjoyed the relationships he built as a member of the team.
“I loved the emotion of the sport,” he said. “I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard or cried so hard during my four years as a Linfield baseball player.”
After graduating from Linfield, Asher pursued a professional baseball career for a short time, playing semi-professional ball for one year.
Today, he works with former teammate and Linfield graduate Donald Pollard at GFP Emergency Services, providing assistance with wildfires and other disasters. His most rewarding experience was aiding in the recovery of Hurricane Katrina, providing meals, housing and other basic needs to emergency response personnel.
He and his wife, Heather, live in Canby with his two sons: Austin (15) and Carter (12).
