John Ellis
Position Number 4 - President
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Rogue River Rural Fire Protection District on my election to the Board of Directors. In 1986 my parents moved to this beautiful area upon their retirement allowing our family to become part of this community . In 2011 my family and I were able to move here full time and one of our daughters attended local schools graduating from Rogue River High School. We are active with our children and grandchildren and supporting their local business. In 2012 I retired from 32 years of public service in both the Fire Service and Law Enforcement.During those 32 years I was a Nation Park Service Park Ranger, Public Safety Officer, (both fire andlaw enforcement responsibilities ) for the Cities of Brisbane and Rohnert Park. Developing a passion for the fire service I became the Fire Chief for the City of Marysville which later consolidated with CALFIRE the State fire department. I have held positions in CALFIRE from Battalion Chief to Assistant Deputy Director.I continue to have a passion to serve the public recently being on the steering committee for the rogue river greenway and continuing to serve on the Board of Directors for the Rogue River Rural FPD. I thank you for this opportunity .
Randy Court
Position Number 1 - Director
HISTORY:
HISTORY
Rogue Valley resident since 1969. Attended North Middle School in Grants Pass, a Grants Pass High School Class of 1975 Graduate. Attended SOC for a short while before joining the work force in Southern Oregon, beginning as an Apprentice Carpenter for Ballinger Construction. I worked as an Automotive Transmission Shop Tech at Jerry’s Clutch & Transmission, and later a Welder, Fabricator and Machinist. I spent 3 years living in Boise, Idaho as an owner/technician for my electronic watch repair business, Sundial Electronics. I worked as a River Tour Guide for Hellgate Excursions for 3 years and have a US Coast Guard, 30-Ton, Inland Operators License. Purchased “Jet Boat River Excursions” in the City of Rogue River, Spring of 1986, operating boat tours out of Fleming Wayside Park, running trips upriver to above the City of Gold Hill and back downstream to right above Savage Rapids Dam, until we sold the business Winter of 1998. Worked as a Saw Filer for S&S Saw Service for 6 Years. Started and operate my small company “Cort Fabrication & Machine” from 1990 to current day. Working 32 years to current, for Cascade Block/Willamette Graystone in the concrete block manufacturing industry, specializing in equipment design and maintenance and automation. I also teach evenings in the Machine Shop, as an Adjunct Teacher at the Mechatronics and Manufacturing Center at Rogue Community College, High Tech Center, in White City.
FAMILY
I have been married to my wife, Sharon, for 35 years. Sharon has worked as a School Secretary for the Rogue River School District for the last 18 years. We have two children, Chandler, 30, an Art Teacher in Portland, Oregon, and Madison, 23, manages Baci’s Pizza & Pasta in Rogue River.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Past President and 20-year member of the Rogue River Chamber of Commerce, working on at the time: The Timber Carnival, Miss Rogue River, Christmas Decorations and the Rooster Crow & Car Show.
Rogue River Little League Baseball and Softball, Coach and Team Manager, including League President for 3 years.
4-H Club Leader in the discipline “Shooting Sports”, 4 Years.
Current Board Member and Past President of the Rogue River Fire District, Jackson County #1, Board of Directors for 30+ years.
EDUCATION
Grants Pass High School, Graduation class of 1975
Southern Oregon University, 1 Year – General Education
Boise State University, 1 Year- Aviation, Real Estate
Rogue Community College, 3 Years CAD drawing
EMPLOYMENT: 1974-2025
McDonalds- 2Years, Manager 1975
Ballinger Construction- 3 Years, Carpenter
Jerry’s Clutch Transmission- 1 Year, Technician
Sundial Electronics- 3 Years, Owner/Tech
Hellgate Excursions- 3 Years, River Tour Guide
Jet Boat River Excursions- 13 Years, Owner, River Tour Guide, Boat Builder
S&S Saw Service- 6 Years, Saw Filer & Welder
Cort Fabrication & Machine- 32Years, Owner, Machinist, Welder/Fabricator
Cascade Block/Willamette Graystone/Quikrete-32 Years to Present, Block Plant Maintenance, Supervisor, Machinist, Automation Systems
Jim Stearns
Position Number 3- Vice President
I have had the honor of being part of the Oregon Fire Service for over 40 years. I started my career as a
Firefighter/Paramedic with Hermiston Fire in 1977, worked up through the ranks serving as a Lieutenant/
Engineer, Captain, Fire Marshal and Fire Chief. Following my retirement after 31 years I became a
volunteer fire fighter. From 2009 -2012 I was Emergency Manager of Umatilla County, Oregon. 2013 -
2022 I returned to the fire service providing interim Fire Chief services to 7 different fire districts across
Oregon. One of the Districts I was interim Chief for was Rogue River Fire District. For 18 months in 2013 –
2014 I worked with the men and women of the Rogue River Fire District to bring about operational
change and bring financial stability to the district, in the process my wife Becky, and I fell in love with the
area and the people and decided to make Rogue River our retirement home.
I was elected to the Board in 2020 and am currently serving my second term. I am very proud of my fire
service career and of the Rogue River Fire District. I invite you to join us at a board meeting (second
Wednesday of the month, 0730 am) and have a voice in the future of the district. Jim
John Foster
Position Number 4 - Director
I was born in Seattle, Washington. Moved to Buhl Idaho when I was 3 years old. Lived in Buhl
until I graduated from High School. Approximately 3 weeks after graduation I departed for
Southern California and 2 weeks later started working at a company that manufactured commercial aircraft interiors. Married in 1964 (still Married to the same Southern Ca. girl we have one Daughter and one Granddaughter.) I was promoted to a Purchasing Expeditor and shortly thereafter was promoted to a Buyer. I remained a Buyer until November of 1965 when I received a request from President Lyndon Johnson to join him in his efforts in Vietnam. Upon my return in 1968, I returned to my former company and remained there until 1986 when I was hired by Purolator Technologies to manage Government Contracts. I remained with Purolator for 4 years and then was hired by DCAS, (Defense Contract Administration Service). In 1996 I transferred to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Calif and remained there until I retired in 2005 and moved to Rogue River, While in Rogue River, I have been a Board Member for over 10 years with the Gold Hill Irrigation District and Rogue River Fire District #1. Additionally, I was a Reserve Police Officer for the City of Rogue River for 13 years.
Craig Berry
Position 5 - Secretary/ Treasurer
