Portland Rose Festival Honors NE Residents

Known to many as the friendliest person in town, the Honorary Mayor of Northeast Portland, 90-year old Paul Knauls, is the captain of smiles and commander of infectious laughter to anyone he meets. Knauls has been named honoree of the 2021 Rose Festival Honors. This fundraising event is focused on the community in support of women, and the positive impact of mentorship.

Knauls has been a steadfast supporter of community and women. Among the several businesses he has owned in the King neighborhood, the salon bearing his wife's name - Geneva's Shear Perfection - is the most fondly remembered by members of the Rose Festival community. In 2007, Paul rode in the Centennial Grand Floral Parade as one of the grand marshals.

Knauls' love for his community reaches over the entire city of Portland, and Portland has responded in turn. The1998 Rose Festival Queen Alisha Moreland, Jefferson High School, and her family are lifelong friends of Paul and his late wife Geneva. Now Dr. Moreland-Capuia is returning virtually to honor her friend as the keynote speaker.

In 2016, then-Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, proclaimed Feb. 11 as Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia Day, highlighting many of her accomplishments in the field of psychiatric medicine, her commitment to community and her work to make life better for others.

Alisha will share what she “packed” for her journey from her "Ticket to Adventure" time on the 1998 court to her position at Harvard Medical School, drawing on knowledge and inspiration from others – including Paul Knauls - that contributed to her strength and resilience along the way.

Public invited to attend virtually

The public is invited to virtually attend Rose Festival Honors, a one-hour live streaming event on Thursday, May 6, noon to 1 p.m. The event is free of charge, however, it is a fundraiser to support the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, and donations of any amount can be made, including those made in honor of the honoree or keynote speaker. The links to RSVP, to view the live stream, and to donate are at https://www.rosefestival.org/events/2021/rose-festival-honors.