The Gray Family

Betty and John Gray

The Gray Family Foundation is built upon the spirit and generosity of John and Betty Gray, whose visionary leadership significantly shaped the Oregon we know and love today.

Born in Ontario, Oregon and raised in Monroe in Benton County, John Gray grew up exploring the outdoors, where he developed a lifelong devotion to preserving the state’s natural beauty. After graduating from Oregon State University, John enlisted in the Army and, after World War II ended, went to Harvard Business School.

Betty was born in Roseburg and grew up in Portland. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in home economics and went on to attend graduate school at Columbia University Teacher’s College, earning a degree in counseling. John and Betty married after his return from the war.

After John completed business school, they settled together in Portland where John became one of the earliest employees of Oregon Saw Chain Manufacturing Company. In 1984, he sold the company, then called Omark Industries, and went on to develop such iconic Oregon destinations as Sunriver Resort in Bend, Salishan on the Oregon Coast, Skamania Lodge in the Columbia Gorge and John’s Landing in Portland.

As humble as he was iconic, John believed that giving back was one of the joys and obligations of success. Dynamic and charming, Betty was deeply committed to childhood education, the arts, and supporting college scholarships. Together, they were active and generous members of many philanthropic communities, from music to the environment to health and education, including Reed College. In 1997, John and Betty established the Gray Family Fund at The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), which grew with the addition of Betty’s estate when she passed away in 2003. From these assets, new initiatives were added to support early childhood, geography and environmental education.

The Gray Family Foundation was officially established in 2011 as a supporting organization of OCF, and John died shortly after. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren now carry on the legacy he began together with Betty, helping Oregon youth grow into lifelong stewards of their place and community.

“From an early age, I knew that there was something very special about Oregon and felt a strong loyalty to my homeland. Later in life I recognized that, if I wanted my great grandchildren to have this same connection to the land, I needed to be active in protecting this incredible place before it is too late.” –John Gray

 “Do what you can. If you can’t give money, give time or give your expertise. I think there is something everyone can contribute.” -John Gray