Board of Directors
An elected five-member Board of Directors governs the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District. The District's Board of Directors is responsible for developing District goals and setting policy. The Board meets the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Ruth Williamson, Chair
Bob Woodward, Vice-Chair
Ted Schoenborn
George Thayer
Scott Wallace
Ruth Williamson, Chair
Ruth Williamson is an active community
volunteer and mother of two young children. Shortly after
moving to Bend nearly10 years ago, she left a successful 15
year career in sales in the outdoor industry. Her association
with the Park and Recreation district began over six years ago,
as board member and former chair of the Park and Recreation
Foundation. A passion for trails inspired her, along with other
volunteers, to create the River Trail Ramble, a fund raiser and
friend raiser to connect the river trail, now in its fourth
year. Ruth and her family enjoy all that Bend offers in terms
of outdoor recreation, and brings a commitment to community and
environmental stewardship to her role as a Park Board member.
Bob Woodward
Bob has been a writer
and photographer for the past 30 years. During those
years he worked primarily as a freelancer but also held
editorial positions at Times-Mirror Magazines, CBS Magazines,
and The New York Times Magazine Group among others.
A Bend resident for 28 years, Bob served six years
on the Bend City Council (1993 to 1999), was Bend's Mayor from
1997 to 1999, and served as chair of the Bend Development Board
from 2000 to 2002. He and his wife Eilleen (a former Park Board
member) have four adult children.
Ted Schoenborn
Ted has been on the board since
2003. He is retired from a career in US Public Health Service.
He is also the station manager of (and helped to build) KPOV LP
FM, Bend Community Radio, a community radio station that serves
under-represented voices in the Bend community. For nearly 20
years he served as Park Board Chairman in Fort Mitchell, KY.
The parks developed there won statewide design awards. His
experience in building parks and developing recreation programs
within budget continues in Bend.
George Thayer
George moved to Bend in 1984 from Southern California where he
had a 23 year career in education. He taught elementary school
for 8 years, completed his doctorate in education and taught at
Cal. State University, Long Beach and UCLA. George competed in
high school and college swimming and water polo. In 1991 he
joined the master swim program at Juniper Swim and Fitness
Center and continues to compete at the local, national and
world levels. He has five adult children and six grandchildren.
Scott Wallace
Scott moved to Bend in 1969 and grew up participating in
many youth programs with Bend Metro Park and Recreation
District. He graduated from Bend High School in 1980 and
attended college on a baseball scholarship. After completing
his competitive baseball career and earning Bachelor and Master
of Science degrees in Geology from Southern Utah and Western
Washington University, respectively, he joined Kleinfelder,
Inc., a consulting engineering firm in 1987. Following stints
in Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland, he returned to the
community he has always considered home, and founded
Kleinfelder's Bend office branch in 1997. Scott and his wife
Karen have two young children and are actively involved in many
of the district's recreation opportunities. Scott has a deep
appreciation for Bend's history and is committed to working
with citizens and fellow board members to provide the quality
parks, trails, facilities, and recreation programs which
contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by Central Oregon
residents.
Click HERE to see Board
of Directors meeting agendas and minutes.
