GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW ROTARIANS - JIM JORDAN

Since Peggy has been on me to write my bio for the Barker, I decided to go ahead and include it in this issue, since I?m filling in for Don this week. I can?t think of a better way to “get „er done”!

I grew up in the small midwest town of Abilene, KS. I guess the best thing about growing up there was that it gave me a strong work ethic and a sense of community. Attending Kansas State University, like the rest of my family, I met and married Cheryl in 1969. She took a chance on a blind date and the rest is history!

Some of my career dreams as a youngster were to be a professional golfer and go on tour, or to enter coaching, and mentor young men. But growing up in a family of veterinarians (father and older brother), it was only natural to follow in their footsteps. I graduated from KSU in 1971 with my DVM degree and entered the USAF Veterinary Corps. I was stationed in Kenitra, Morocco for three years as base veterinarian. Being an isolated duty station, we had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Morocco and up into Europe. We have many fond memories of my tour there.

I left the Air Force in 1974 to enter private practice in Sparks, NV. I worked in a mixed practice for two years before coming to Corvallis. After a one year stint in Albany, I started Ark Animal Hospital in Philomath in 1978. I had a mixed animal practice. While I enjoyed working with my clients and their pets, being on call every other weekend and nights for emergencies for 26 years takes its toll. I sold the practice in 2004 and retired.

Cheryl retired from OSU at the same time, giving us both some free time to pursue our hobbies. We bought an Airstream travel trailer and enjoy traveling around the northwest and back to see our family in Kansas. I took up playing the mandolin, and enjoy playing Bluegrass and Celtic tunes at local weekly jams. I attended four Bluegrass festivals last summer, and will attend one in Portland this weekend! This has given me some good right brain activity in retirement!

My experience with Rotary began when Don MaIcolm recruited me one day when he had one of his billy goats at the clinic. He invited me to attend a meeting and give a talk to the club. Through his persistence, I became a member of Philomath Rotary in 1987. I served as president of the club in 1991-92 and treasurer for eight years. In 1998, I was the recipient of the Distinguished Citizenship Award from the City of Philomath. The award was given for service on the campaign to install memorial bricks that acknowledge those who contributed to the Philomath Library. This was the club?s community service project the year I chaired the committee.

Serving as the Philomath Rotary Club representative, I became a member of the Board of Directors of The Benton County Foundation in 2007. Through the Foundation, Cheryl and I established an endowed Designated Fund to support the youth of Benton County. We specified that earnings from the fund be distributed to the Philomath Rotary Club—they then determine which youth programs to supp