Tom
was born and raised
in Medford Oregon.
His parents came to
Oregon during the
depression, so hard
work and being a
responsible
individual was
deeply ingrained at
a very early age.
By the age of
fourteen he had
begun his career in
the grocery business
which eventually
brought him to the
Klamath Basin.
Tom graduated from
Medford Senior High
and spent 2 years at
Southern Oregon
College. After a
short disagreement
with the Jackson
County Draft Board,
the Marine Corps was
the next stop for
Tom. Being part of
the Marine Corps was
always one of Tom’s
goals in life.
As many of you
remember, surviving
the 60’s was quite a
challenge all by its
self. The Marine
Corps cemented in
Tom the common
values needed to
continue progressing
even in the toughest
of times. After the
Marine Corps, Tom
returned to the
grocery business,
which brought him to
the Klamath Basin in
1971.
In 1978, he and Bev
had a major career
change, by going
into the ranching,
farming and trucking
business. His
family has now been
farming and ranching
for five generations
in the Klamath
Basin. It is not
uncommon to see four
generations working
side by side in a
hay field. Thus
began his
introduction into
the world of
politics, which
eventually brought
him to the elected
office of Klamath
County
Commissioner.
Prior Government
Experience:
United State
Marine Corp
Testified before
US Congressional
Subcommittee
Hearing
Vice Chair
Klamath County
Republican Party
Central
Committee
Klamath County
Republican
Precinct person
Klamath County
Farm Use
Advisory Board
Klamath County
Soil and Water
Conservation
District
Director
President
Klamath
Off-Project
Water Users
Association
President
Sprague River
Water Users
Association
Chair Headwaters
Local Advisory
Committee Senate
Bill 1010 Clean
Water Act
Membership and
Community
Involvement:
Mentoring at
risk youth
National Rifle
Association
Klamath Tea
Party Patriots
Citizens
Protecting Rural
Oregon
Oregon Hay
Growers
Water for Life
Coached Youth
Wrestling Mat
Club
Oregon Farm
Bureau
Oregon
Cattleman’s
Association
About our topic:
The Klamath Basin
Restoration
Agreement, (KBRA),
began as a noble
effort to solve many
issues in the
Klamath River Basin.
Unfortunately, the
current dam removal
and KBRA do not
deliver what is
needed. There is no
Basin wide or
Congressional
support. The
southern Oregon and
northern California
elections in the
last four years have
proven that beyond
any doubt! A durable
solution can and
must be achieved by
continued
negotiations,
creating a viable
settlement supported
by the Klamath Basin
citizens and our
local, States and
Federal elected
individuals.