John Dellenback, 84; Peace Corps Director, Oregon Congressman

John Dellenback, 84, the former Peace Corps director and Republican congressman from Oregon who drafted legislation establishing the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, died Saturday of viral pneumonia in Medford, Ore.

Dellenback was named director of the Peace Corps by President Ford in 1975. For two years, he supervised the organization of 6,700 volunteers.

During his tenure in Congress from 1966 to 1974, Dellenback was a leader in developing legislation on education and natural resources. One of his accomplishments was crafting amendments to the bill allowing construction of the Alaska oil pipeline holding shippers liable for oil spills.

Dellenback also was an ardent promoter of Christian education. He became president of the Christian College Coalition in 1977 and increased its membership from 10 colleges to 77 by the time he stepped down in 1988. The organization later became the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities.

Dellenback made medical history six years ago when, at age 78, he became the nation’s oldest kidney transplant recipient to that date. The kidney was donated by his wife Mary Jane, then 68, and the country’s third-oldest donor to that time.