Glasker Rankin Jr., 1954- 2005

In 2005, Sisters’ community suffered a terrible loss when Glasker Rankin, our Cashier, died. Glasker was beloved and inspirational to staff, customers, volunteers and supporters alike.  We are so proud of him, and we want to share his story with you.

“I ran in to someone the other day and he said to me, ‘Last time I saw you, you robbed me man.’  I didn’t want to admit it, but it was true. That’s not me today and it’s embarrassing and hard to hear, but I know I have to admit and say I’m sorry. When I see someone I hurt in my past, I apologize. We go out to coffee and talk about it. I say, ‘Will you accept my apology and if you don’t I will understand?’

Glasker Rankin was the cashier at Sisters Of The Road, the first person our customers interacted with as they ordered their food, the person who asked new customers their name and welcomed them to Sisters. Glasker was the first to tell you that he was one of the scariest guys on the Portland streets in the 70s and 80s.

Glasker spent much of his life incarcerated for drug use, stealing and assault. In his 20s, 30s and 40s he was behind bars, on and off for several years at a time. Three of Glasker’s siblings and his mother died while he was in prison.

In 1983 Glasker was almost convicted under the lifetime criminal law in Oregon, which would have sent him to prison with no chance of parole for the rest of his life.

In 1997 Glasker went to a friend who had gotten clean and asked him what he had to do to also get clean and stay that way.

Glasker first became cashier in 1998.

He had his photo on the cover of the Metro section of The Oregonian two times in the past 5 years for his work at Sisters.

Glasker died clean and sober on February 7, 2005, but at Sisters we feel his spirit with us every day.