Jason Boe

Jason Boe
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
1970–1980
ConstituencyDouglas County
President of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1973–1980
Preceded byJohn D. Burns
Succeeded byFred W. Heard
Member of the Oregon House of
Representatives from the 15th District
In office
1964–1970
ConstituencyDouglas County
Personal details
Born(1929-03-10)March 10, 1929
Los Angeles, California
DiedMarch 20, 1990(1990-03-20) (aged 61)
Portland, Oregon
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKathryn Boe
ResidencePortland, Oregon
Alma materPacific University
ProfessionOptometrist

Jason Douglas Boe (March 10, 1929 – March 20, 1990) was an American optometrist from Oregon. A native of California, he served as the 47th president of the Oregon State Senate. Prior to serving in the Senate he was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Early life

Jason Boe was born in 1929 in Los Angeles, California. When he turned 24 in 1953,[1] he made his way north to Oregon to attend school at Pacific University, where he earned a doctorate in optometry. It was during his time at Pacific that he met his future wife, Kathryn.[1] They both shared a common interest in classical music and quickly fell in love and married.[1] After Boe earned his doctorate, he and Kathryn moved to Reedsport, Oregon, where he began his optometry practice.[1]

In 1958, Boe successfully sought a seat on the Reedsport City Council.[2]

Legislative career

Boe sought a seat in the Oregon State Legislature, and in 1964 he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. He served for three consecutive terms, from 1964 to 1970.[2] He was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1970 and served there until 1980.[2]

In 1973 (the 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly), he broke up a coalition of conservative Democrats and Republicans to be elected Senate President.[2] In the 1975 session, he was challenged by fellow Democrat Betty Roberts for the position, but prevailed, in part due to the decision of independent Charles Hanlon to join the Democratic Party and support Boe.[3] Boe remained Senate President for four consecutive terms.[4]

President Jimmy Carter appointed Boe to the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations on October 11, 1979.[5]

Later years

Jason Boe retired from elective office after his 1980 failed bid for Oregon State Treasurer. He later owned Jason Boe & Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm that had offices in both Taiwan and Korea.[6]

Legacy

The Senate wing of the Oregon State Capitol is named in Boe's honor.

In 1997, a stretch of Oregon Route 38 that lies between the communities of Drain and Reedsport was designated the "Jason Boe Corridor".[7]

Electoral history

1968 Democratic Primary
Candidate Name Votes [8]
Jason Boe 10,005
1968 General Election
Candidate Name Votes [8]
Jason Boe (D) 16,236
Paul L. Hurlocker (R) 8,980

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hunt, Ann (March 4, 1990). "Life After Politics: Accent on Maturity". The Oregonian Living, p.106.
  2. ^ a b c d Mapes, Jeff (March 22, 1990). "Jason Boe, Noted Oregon Lawmaker, Dies". The Oregonian. Local Stories, p. A1.
  3. ^ Church, Jim (June 24, 1976). "Independent backs Boe to lead Senate". The Bend Bulletin. The Associated Press. p. 4.
  4. ^ Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Senate Presidents of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  5. ^ John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project
  6. ^ "Obituary: Jason Boe, Oregon Politician, 61" The New York Times. March 23, 1990.
  7. ^ "69th Oregon Legislative Assembly--1997 Regular Session". Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Myers, Clay. Oregon Blue Book, Office of the Secretary of State, 1970