The Pioneers were formed by a contingent of Lewis & Clark Alumni in 1958 to play the varsity and evolved into the semi-pro team of 1961 playing an independent schedule.  The budget for the year was $2,000.  Jim Quick, Bill Stemple, Don Lund, Mike Clock, Ralph Stanley, Jack Abdie, Jimmy Johnson, Gene Englebretson and Wally Sparks led the former Lewis & Clark contingents bolstered by Portland State's Sam and Dave Roberts, Fred Samples of Texas College, Monte Brethauer of Oregon and Bob Henderson of Washington State.

The September 17th game against Lewis & Clark varsity was strictly played by alumni.  The finale against Tacoma saw 12 Pioneer players defeat the Bullets 14-0.  The Bullets would become the Tacoma Tyees in 1962
 
Wally Sparks was signed by the Minnesota Vikings but waived following a knee injury.

Bob Sparks, after getting a taste of the regional semi-pro teams, made the change to take the "Pioneers" to the next level by morphing into the Portland Thunderbirds as an independent in 1962 and a North Pacific League member in 1963.

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