Graham “Art” Derbyshire is not your typical retired teacher – at nearly eighty years old, he returned home in May from his fourth international hunting trip to South Africa. He’s adventured on nearly every continent in the world, only leaving South America behind, while also maintaining a full schedule of coaching, fundraising for community programs, and investing in the lives of those around him.
Hunting wasn’t something he grew up doing from early childhood. Art and his twin brother, Ramsay, were raised in a home without outdoor recreation until the age of 17, when they moved to live with their mother and stepfather. At that point, both boys were introduced to deer hunting and started what would be a lifetime full of adventures across the globe.
Art’s international hunting adventures began in 1988 with a trip to Mongolia for elk, the beginning of what would be a list of 10 countries and countless species that now fill his locally famous trophy room. The walls of his trophy room behind his home are adorned with mounts, photos, paintings, and memorabilia from over six decades of his journeys. This edition of the trophy has been expanded, as he outgrew the original built in the early 1990s.
His international hunting resume includes a long list of species, including the following awards recognized in the hunting industry:
- Capra World Slam - at least 12 species of wild capra (goat) from around the world
- North American Super Ten - successful harvest of all of the following: deer, elk, bear, caribou, sheep, cougar, mountain goat, antelope, moose, bison in North America
Almost as impressive as the trophies themselves is his dedication and lifelong pursuit to accomplish his dreams. All of his international trips came later in life, after his professional career as a high school educator (a career not well-known for wealth building).
To fund his dreams, Derbyshire worked over 44 years for a local farming family, in addition to his decades of teaching. He first began driving truck during grain harvest in the summer months, then, after his full retirement from teaching, he added additional capacity – saving every dollar for his hunting aspirations.
“When I first started teaching in 1969, my gross income was $6,000 per year,” says Derbyshire. “I’ve set goals in my lifetime. I’ve lived on a fixed income, and I’ve worked. From 1969 to 2023, there were only four summers I didn’t work. My extra work - all that goes into my hunting fund - and if I don’t save that money, I don’t go.”
Art began teaching science in Elkton, Ore., population 187, after graduating from Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1969. During his eight years at Elkton, he also began his decades-long coaching career in track and field. In 1977, Art moved to Stanfield and began what would be a 22 tenure as a science teacher at Stanfield High School. He began coaching for the tigers shortly after. Derbyshire’s love of hunting merged well with his teaching of science in the classroom, allowing him to create special bonds with students along the way.
He was recognized by the Oregon High School Science Teacher Association as “Teacher of the Year” for the 1989-1990 school year.
“It was pretty nice to walk into a classroom every morning and have a couple six-point bull elk hanging on the wall,” says Ben Rodriguez, a former student and Hermiston local. “Not many classrooms like that, that’s for sure.”
Students and locals often recognize him from afar for his unwavering support of the University of Oregon Ducks. Whether at school, at a track meet, or out in the community, he is often seen proudly decked out in green, yellow, tie-dye - or a bold mix of all three. His passion for the ducks isn’t subtle, but it is genuine, and it became one of many ways he connected with students and brought energy to the classroom.
In addition to his passions of hunting and support of U of O, Derbyshire also connected students to their learning through athletics. He coached volleyball, basketball, cross country, and was the Head Coach of the varsity track and field team for 17 years at Stanfield. During his coaching tenure in track and field, the tigers brought home six district titles and a state championship in 1999. Derbyshire was recognized as Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001 by “Who’s Who in Oregon Track and Field.” Since his retirement as Head Coach in 2006, he’s returned as an assistant coach for both the middle school and high school track programs.
“The 2025 Stanfield track and field season was totally different and made by having Coach Derbyshire on staff,” says Jason Sperr, current track and field and cross-country coach for Stanfield High School. He continues, “When my wife and I took over the program two years ago, we wanted the relationships and experiences of the athletes to be the takeaway of the season, even over the success, and be stewards of Coach Derbyshire’s program and honor his legacy.”
Stanfield School District named their track and field facility after Derbyshire in 2008, a testament to his legacy in the community and enduring impact with students. Sperr and a few others are working with a local sign company to replace the original sign, hoping for its installation to be complete before the 2025-2026 school
year.
In addition to coaching track and field, Derbyshire also voluntarily coached trap shooting for the bulldogs of Hermiston, investing over 50 years of volunteerism, coaching and fundraising for the Hermiston Gun Club, and earning him a spot in the club’s Hall of Fame. Only the third inductee in the club’s history.
Derbyshire closed the chapter of teaching for Stanfield in 1999, opening his schedule for more international hunting trips. What made him decide to set his sights on international hunting?
“It’s the adventure, you know. I loved the idea of seeing other countries and places, experiencing the cultures and food.”
He put in countless hours and miles of travel to see corners of the world many only dream of. He’s traveled from Mongolia to Kazakhstan, New Caledonia, Turkey, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Canada, Spain, and more.
His favorite amongst the animals to chase?
“They’re all different, but I’m partial to elk and ibex.”
Eight different species of ibex, a type of wild goat, are displayed amongst seven elk in his trophy room. The trophies aren’t the best part for him, though, it’s the
memories made and people he’s met along the way.
In addition to his travels, Art chose to invest in the relationships he’s made across the globe and to the thrill of chasing wild game. For each hunt, he packs extra
items with him to give as gifts to cooks, housekeepers, trackers, and others whose work directly impact his positive experiences. In addition to the typical gear needed on his packing list, Art included the likes of warm beanies, clothing, jewelry, perfume, and more.
“You need to look out for them and make them feel better while you’re on your journey,” he says of gifting while on his trips. “So what if it costs you a little more?”
Relationships are currency in Derbyshire’s world.
In countless other ways, Art has given to the community, including the establishment of the Clara Ramos Scholarship Fund with his wife – an annual $2,000-$4,000 scholarship awarded to graduate(s) of Stanfield High School in memory of a former student. So far, sixteen students have benefitted from the scholarship fund, honoring the memory of Clara Ramos, nearly all self-funded by the Derbyshires.
He has also donated countless auction items, volunteerism hours, and monetary funds to benefit the Stanfield Booster Club, Hermiston Gun Club, Agape House, Stanfield Track and Field program, and other organizations whose missions are close to his heart.
The City of Stanfield’s Fourth of July Committee named Art Derbyshire as the 2025 Grand Marshal of their Independence Day parade – Stanfield’s largest event of the year – for his time and dedication to the community of Stanfield and generations of students positively impacted.
Art has been awarded many accolades in his teaching, coaching and hunting careers, but none of which mean as much to him as the relationships he’s made along the way.
Unfortunately, earlier this year, Art received a cancer diagnosis that, when found, had already spread throughout his body. In conversations with his family, they’ve chosen to not treat it. His living room today is full of cards and letters sent to him after the news was shared publicly. He named several people that have stopped by to see him and reminisce – truly what means the most to him – is time invested.
“What comes around, comes around,” he says. “There’s been a lot of people that I’ve helped. I have no expectations; I didn’t do it for this [accolades]. It feels good to be able to do what I’ve been able to.”
This new reality isn’t stopping him from living as-usual. He’s making plans for a final trip to South Africa next May with his twin brother, Ramsay, and others that plan to join him. He’s got his sights set on one last African species: a cape buffalo.
Derbyshire has never needed encouragement from the lyrics of Tim McGraw’s 2004 hit, “Live Like You Were Dying”– he has been filling every moment of his life with adventure, investing in others, and truly living in every moment.
When asked how many people he’s introduced to hunting and being outdoors, he responded, “Countless. Adults, teenagers, kids… I have no idea. There were times that I took kids to trap shoot at the Hermiston Gun Club every day of the week.”
His encouragement to others? The bumper sticker on his pickup says it all – hunt with your kids, not for them.
“I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything. I think of all the memories; it’s really a phenomenal deal – the times I’ve had with Scotty and Rodriguez. It’s been a wild trip, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
Art Derbyshire – despite the diagnoses – is charging forward, one relationship, one adventure, one act of generosity at a time. Whether he’s planning one last hunt or sharing memories with former students and friends, Art continues to live with purpose and grit.
His legacy isn’t measured by trophies or titles, but by the lives he’s lifted, and the skills and values he’s passed on to others.
In a world that often slows with age or hardship, Art reminds us of what it means to press on – to live fully, give freely, and keep charging forward, no matter what lies ahead.
At the time of publication, Umatilla Electric Cooperative learned of the passing of Mr. Graham “Art” Derbyshire. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the many lives he touched. In honor of his remarkable legacy, we have chosen to share his story as originally written - a tribute to a life well-lived, full of purpose, generosity, and adventure.