At 90 years old, former Chehalis Tribal Chairman and beloved Babe Ruth League baseball coach Melvin “Mel” Youckton got to celebrate his 25th birthday again on Saturday, commemorating the day he received a life-saving heart transplant.
“In the beginning, they said, ‘You know, when he turns 65-and-a-half, we will not be able to perform this because insurance won’t cover it,’” said Youckton’s daughter, Jessie Goddard, during a celebration at Swede Hall in Rochester on Saturday. “His birthday was in March. He got the call in May. That’s how close it was.”
Youckton celebrated his 90th birthday in March and, with his health declining over the last month, his family and friends decided to gather for Youckton’s “heart birthday” to celebrate his life and the impact he has had on his community.
“We kind of want to recognize him because he’s never really been recognized for all he’s done in his life for so many,” Jessie said.
“He’s been a big, big inspiration to myself and my family, and not just in the business committee role but also in baseball,” said current Chehalis Tribal Chairman Dustin Klatush. “ … It’s just nice to be here and see everybody that’s here. So, I just want to say happy 25th to his heart.”
Youckton was born to parents Clarence and Jessie (Hayden) Youckton in 1935. He graduated from Oakville High School in 1954, marrying Leona Capoeman of the Quinault Tribe that same year.
He went to Centralia College on a full scholarship and was part of the 1953-54 football team that was inducted into the Centralia College Hall of Fame in 2005, according to granddaughter Orinda Goddard.
Youckton ended up graduating third in his class after a vindictive teacher failed him in order to bring his grade point average down.
“They didn’t want an Indian valedictorian,” Orinda said.
After college, Youckton worked as the Indian education counselor for Oakville High School, working with tribal youth to ensure they were going to school and making the most of their education.
“The thing that I remember growing up with him is everything about Mel has been something to learn,” Jessie said. “It didn’t matter if it was in the tribal government, it didn’t matter if it was in the state, didn’t matter if it was for the county, it didn’t matter if it was just for his own family, he was teaching something.”
Youckton was elected as the chairman of the Chehalis Tribe in 1974 and served two terms, leaving the position in 2000.
“During that time, he accomplished many ventures that opened the doors of opportunity for our tribe,” said granddaughter Ranessa Goddard.
One of those ventures was the Lucky Eagle Casino, which opened in 1995.
“The casino is the foundation of economic growth for our tribe and the surrounding areas, with employment and revenue to generate other opportunities for economic development,” Ranessa said. “I think it’s important for us to remember where we started to really appreciate what we have today.”
Youckton was also one of the founding members of the South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA), an intertribal organization with the goal of aid in the financial and technical success and general wellbeing of all participating tribes.
“To this day, SPIPA is active and thriving,” Ranessa said.
Mel and Leona Youckton had a total of nine children, including two sons who passed away.
Leona was the one who taught their oldest child, Rodney, how to throw a ball when he started playing Little League Baseball in 1966, up until he started throwing the ball too hard, Jessie said.
“She told our dad, Mel, ‘You’re going to have to spend time with our boy. He’s starting to throw too hard, and now it’s going to be up to you to help him and teach him,’” Jessie said, adding, “I always tease my brother and tell him he was the start of everything, because that’s where he learned how to play baseball.”
Youckton developed a deep love for baseball and ultimately coached in the Babe Ruth League in Centralia for 15 years until he retired in 1995.
Several of Youckton’s players went on to contribute to Rochester High School’s league title, district title and state championship wins in 1993 and 1995, according to Orinda.
One of Youckton’s players was Justin Rotter, a Rochester High School math teacher, middle school football and assistant baseball coach who passed away unexpectedly from a heart condition in 2020 at the age of 44.
“He (Rotter) would share so many stories about my grandpa. (How) he was a good coach and he shared so many skills that taught him how to play baseball,” Orinda said.
Former Yakama Nation Tribal Chairman Harry Smiskin was also one of Youckton’s Babe Ruth players.
“Even though I’m not from here, somehow Mel and I struck up a kinship, a relationship, a friendship, that’s lasted all these years,” Smiskin said, adding that Youckton taught him a lot about being chairman.
“A lot of the things that I did for the Yakama Nation, I learned from this gentleman,” Smiskin said. “One of those things is, ‘I’m the chief, you listen’ … It went pretty well too — I thought I’d get booed or beat up.”
Youckton was about 58 years old when his heart started to weaken, according to Jessie.
“He began to continue to get weaker and weaker every year, and in 2000, he was so weak that he could hardly even get himself to stand up,” Jessie said.
Youckton went to multiple doctors and was eventually put on the list to receive a heart transplant.
“(It was a) long struggle for it, but he went through every test that he needed to go through, up until the final blood draw,” Jessie said.
Not knowing it was the final test, Jessie said that Youckton, who was in a wheelchair, put his head down and told Jessie he was done.
After he was told he now just had to wait for a call that there was a heart for him, Youckton “kind of perked up and he looked at me and goes, ‘Oh, OK.’”
Youckton received a heart from an Alaskan native on May 2, 2000.
His new heart has beat steadily for the last 25 years, though Youckton’s family said Saturday that the last few months have been rough.
“Looking to this day has really helped, lifted him and given him a direction to go and continue, continue fighting on and looking for that strength,” said granddaughter Heather Walker-Taylor.
Youckton spoke briefly during the celebration to redirect attention to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reciting their accolades and saying how proud he was of their accomplishments.
He also pointed out his many friends in attendance and celebrated their accomplishments.
“I’m proud of my family, all of the children, everybody, so thank you again,” he said.
