Aug. 27, 1972: The Grateful Dead perform the first of their many iconic shows in the Eugene area to raise money in order to save the Springfield Creamery, an establishment owned by the brother of their close friend, eccentric artist and University of Oregon alumnus Ken Kesey.
This concert was a wild success and established a connection between the Dead and the Eugene area that persists to this day. One month later, a chance encounter with Owsley “Bear” Stanley, the sound engineer for the band, led to a young Deb Trist getting an invite to see the Grateful Dead in Jersey City, New Jersey. From that moment forward, Trist, now the host of “Dead Air with Downtown Deb” on 89.7 FM KLCC in Eugene, became forever intertwined with the band.
After the shows, she got to meet the band, and the experience left an impression on her. “It was three nights; it was amazing,” Trist said…