Glenn L. Jackson (nickname "Mr. Oregon"; April 27, 1902 – June 20, 1980)Mosey, Ed (June 21, 1980). "Respected entrepreneur: Jackson guided industry, state leaders". ''The Oregonian'', p. A8. was a businessman in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

, and an influential

transportation planner A professional transportation planner is a professional engaged in the practice of transportation planning, relating to the transportation aspects of urban planning and infrastructure planning. Professional Certification in the United States In ...

in the state.Mahoney, Barbara
Glenn Jackson
in the ''

Oregon Encyclopedia ''The Oregon Encyclopedia of History and Culture'' is a collaborative encyclopedia focused on the history and culture of the U.S. state of Oregon. Description The encyclopedia is a project of Portland State University's History Department, the O ...

'' He made a strong mark on the state as a 20-year member, and later chair, of the Oregon State Highway Commission, later known as the

Oregon Transportation Commission The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Dep ...

. He was initially appointed to the commission by Governor

Mark Hatfield Mark Odom Hatfield (July 12, 1922 – August 7, 2011) was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Factions in the Republican Party (United States)#Moderates, moderate Republican Party (United States), Republican, he se ...

in 1959. He became chair in 1962, and was reappointed by Governors

Tom McCall Thomas Lawson McCall (March 22, 1913 January 8, 1983) was an American, politician and journalist in the state of Oregon, serving as the state's thirtieth governor from 1967 to 1975. A progressive Republican, he was known as a staunch environme ...

and Robert Straub. Jackson directed the planning and construction of of freeway and more than 800 bridges, including the Fremont, Astoria–Megler, and Marquam bridges.

Biography

Glenn Jackson was born to William L. and Minnie Jackson, in

Albany, Oregon Albany ( ) is the county seat of Linn County, Oregon, and is the 11th most populous city in the state. Albany is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton count ...

, on April 27, 1902. His father came to Oregon in 1877. His mother was a native of Oregon, born on a donation land claim in

Yamhill County, Oregon Yamhill County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 107,722. The county seat is McMinnville. Yamhill County was named after the Yamhelas, members of the Kalapuya Tribe. Yamhill Co ...

, in 1872. While teaching Mr. and Mrs. Jackson met; both were

Linn County, Oregon Linn County is one of the Oregon counties, 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 United States census, 2023 census population estimates, the population was 131,496. The county seat is Albany, Oregon, Albany. The county Oreg ...

, schoolteachers. Mr. Jackson was elected superintendent of Linn County schools at the turn of the 20th century. He later became co-publisher of the ''

Albany Democrat-Herald The ''Albany Democrat-Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Albany, Oregon, United States. The paper is owned by the Iowa-based Lee Enterprises, a firm which also owns the daily '' Corvallis Gazette-Times,'' published in the adjacent market ...

''. Although he was expelled from high school and admitted to

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...

on a provisional basis, Jackson received a bachelor of science degree in 1925. After graduating, Jackson started as a salesman for Mountain States Power Company in

. He became sales manager in 1927 and vice president in 1929. That same year he became vice president and director of California Oregon Power Company (COPCO) in

Medford, Oregon Medford is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census on April 1, 2020, the city had a total population of 85,824, making it the List of cities in Oregon, eighth-most populo ...

. Jackson had a stint in military service in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, during which he attained the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. Jackson served as Executive Officer under

Ira C. Eaker General (Honorary) Ira Clarence Eaker (April 13, 1896 – August 6, 1987) was a general of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Eaker, as second-in-command of the prospective Eighth Air Force, was sent to England to form an ...

, commander of the Eighth Air Force, in Italy. Among the decorations he received were the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Order of the British Empire, and Crown of Italy. After the war, Jackson continued to work for COPCO. He became vice-chairman of the board of

Pacific Power & Light PacifiCorp is an electric power company based in the Lloyd Center Tower in Portland, Oregon with operations in the western United States. PacifiCorp has two business units: Pacific Power, a regulated electric utility with service territory throu ...

(PP&L) (now a division of

PacifiCorp PacifiCorp is an electric power company based in the Lloyd Center Tower in Portland, Oregon with operations in the western United States. PacifiCorp has two business units: Pacific Power, a regulated electric utility with service territory thro ...

) in 1961, when COPCO merged with PP&L, and later chairman, until retiring from that position in 1972. He was also a director of Standard Insurance Company, the U.S. National Bank of Oregon, Fred Meyer, Inc., and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He developed White City, an industrial and residential park, on the site of Camp White near

. He and his sister inherited a majority share of the ''Democrat-Herald'' in 1949. He later bought out the co-publisher and added nine other Oregon weekly newspapers to the company, retaining them until his death in 1980. Jackson was also a trustee of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, St. Vincent Medical Foundation, Willamette University, Linfield College Board of Associates, Oregon State University Foundation, Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital, Mercy Flights Inc, Rogue Valley Manor, Foundation of Oregon Research & Education, Indian Festival of Arts Inc. and Columbia River Maritime Museum. Jackson died of cancer at the age of 78 on June 20, 1980, in Portland.Bundy, Don (June 21, 1980). "Civic leader Glenn Jackson dies". ''The Oregonian'', p. 1. The Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge, completed in 1982 to carry

Interstate 205 Interstate 205 may refer to either of two unconnected Interstate Highways in the United States, both of which are related to Interstate 5 * Interstate 205 (California), a connector in the San Francisco Bay Area * Interstate 205 (Oregon–Washing ...

across the

Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook language, Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin language, Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river headwater ...

, is named after him. Jackson leased, then purchased, in 1946, a fashionable

Colonial Revival The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture. The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened Americans to the arch ...

house in Medford that was designed by noted architect

Frank Chamberlain Clark Frank Chamberlain Clark (1872–1957) was an American architect active in Southern Oregon. Many of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Clark has been said to be "the leading architect of the Rogue River Vall ...

. The house, known as the Clark-Jackson House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. with

References

External links

* George Edmonston Jr.
Up Close and Personal: “Mr. Oregon”: Glenn L. Jackson
, OSU alumni association {{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Glenn Businesspeople from Oregon 1902 births 1980 deaths History of transportation in Oregon Oregon Republicans United States Army officers American newspaper publishers (people) People from Albany, Oregon Oregon State University alumni Transportation planning 20th-century American businesspeople Military personnel from Oregon

Biography

See also

References

External links