Victor G. Atiyeh
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Republican Victor George Atiyeh (born February 20, 1923 in Portland, Oregon, USA) was elected governor of Oregon in 1978 after unsuccessfully running against Robert W. Straub four years earlier. Atiyeh served eight years as governor from 1979 through 1987. He won re-election running against Ted Kulongoski with 61.6 percent of the vote, the largest margin in 32 years.
He worked in the rug and carpet business, Atiyeh Brothers, established by his father at the turn of the 20th century.
Atiyeh served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1959 to 1964 and as a state senator from 1965 to 1978.
When state residents began losing food stamp benefits in 1979, Atiyeh was instrumental in establishing Oregon Food Share, the nation's first statewide food bank.
| Preceded by: Robert W. Straub | Governor of Oregon 1979-1987 | Succeeded by: Neil Goldschmidt |