Brother and sister pair Tim Dixon and Barbara Dobrinen recently collaborated to tell the story of their father and the Battle Ground native's adventures in their book, “Calm Amidst Crisis, The Life of Hubert Scripps ‘Beale’ Dixon.”
The book tells the story of Hubert Dixon, who went on to be the general manager of the Tillamook County Creamery Association from 1951-75. Dixon survived many challenges, including the Great Depression. He also worked in the local dairy industry and managed the Battle Ground Dairymen Cooperative Association, prior to his time at Tillamook.
Tim Dixon and Dobrinen hosted a book signing at Founder’s Coffee and Mercantile in Battle Ground on Saturday, Dec. 14, just a half block away from where Hubert Dixon grew up.
The book talks about Hubert’s upbringing in Battle Ground to being robbed while working at a bank in Scotts Mills, Oregon. After the Depression was over, Hubert Dixon returned to his hometown to work for the co-op in the feed mill, which led to him becoming the manager of the Dairyman’s Association Cooperative in 1941.
“He was the manager for that until 1950 and then some of the board members from the Tillamook Creamery came looking for a manager,” Tim Dixon said. “Their manager had a heart attack and died, and they were looking for a manager who knew about co-op.”
Hubert Dixon became the general manager of the Tillamook County Creamery Association, which is what cheese and ice cream lovers can find in stores today. His time as general manager came with some opposition in the form of “dairy wars.”
“When he was at the Battle Ground Co-Op, he could see that some of the Grade-B farmers were bringing in very good milk, and he said they should share in the Grade-A price, and he carried that to Tillamook,” Tim Dixon said. “He never expected this, but there were strong grade farmers there that eventually swung their way onto the board of directors, and they broke off and formed the Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association and they went against the Tillamook County Creamery Association and it was a terrible thing, and that went on from 1962 to 1968.”
Tim Dixon and Dobrinen gathered information from recorded interviews, a family book about the Dixon family’s growing up years and more to form their book.
The book, “Calm Amidst Crisis, The Life of Hubert Scripps ‘Beale’ Dixon,” is available on Amazon. Tim Dixon said there are more book signings planned, including one possibly at Literary Leftovers in Battle Ground after signings in Scotts Mills and Tillamook.
