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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 21, 2005 James G. Bond of Ashland, 80, has been volunteering for United Way for more than 55 years. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Continuing a life of civic leadership Hometown Hero By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune He’s been chief psychologist of a mental hospital, university president and small-town mayor. And at 80, curiosity still keeps James G. Bond going. "I’m nosy. And I can’t keep my nose out of things," says the Ashland resident. "I have to get involved. I can’t stay out of it." Bond has been a United Way volunteer for more than 55 years, long enough to remember when the national fund-raising organization was called Community Chest. He is currently serving on the local United Way board and on the Ashland City Council Budget Committee. Advertisement "I am on several committees — particularly health related," he says. Born and raised in Ohio, Bond says his tri-racial ethnicity has never been a factor in his life. He is part Native American, part Caucasian, with "just a touch of African-American," he says. "People have tried to make it an issue, but I won’t allow it to become one. I don’t put up with that nonsense," says Bond. "My mother said, ‘People can’t put you in a box if you won’t get in it.’" Bond served as a staff sergeant in Italy during World War II. Afterwards, he attended three colleges and universities, eventually earning a doctorate in psychology from New York University. "I’m trained as a clinical psychologist," says Bond. He worked all over the United States, he says. Among his many career permutations, Bond served as chief psychologist of Toledo State and Receiving Hospital — a 3,600-bed mental hospital — director of the Psychology Clinic at Bowling Green State University, president of California State University in Sacramento, Calif., director of the U.S. Selective Service System and director of the Office of Federal Relations. Bond’s resume reads like what you’d expect for someone listed in "Who’s Who in America." He’s also got five other major awards and recognitions to his credit, including being the first minority president of any major university west of the Mississippi, he says. In the middle of the resume is one of Bond’s favorite jobs — a six-year stint as mayor of Manzanita, a coastal community in Northern Oregon. Bond served from 1994 to 1999. "It’s a beautiful place to live," he says. "Plus the people are very progressive in their attitudes." A widower for many years, Bond has three adult children. Bond says he left Manzanita for Ashland five years ago because "it was time to be closer to my family." Former Ashland Mayor Cathy Shaw says Manzanita’s loss has been Ashland’s gain. Shaw served from 1989 to 2000. She says because their terms and philosophies overlapped, she paid particular attention to Bond’s mayoral style. "We traveled some parallel universes," Shaw says. "I was very impressed with his approach to civic work and ethics." Shaw said Bond’s thoughtful demeanor stood him in good stead as the town’s leader. "It can be a very contentious situation — to be a leader of a small community," says Shaw. Bond says Shaw urged him to run for mayor of Ashland. But he’s done with elected office. "I’m going to be 81 next month," says Bond. "I have to pick my battles." But although he has no further political aspirations, he doesn’t plan on quitting his community service work. He still has a duty to serve, he says. "It’s not fair, with all that I’ve learned, not to share that information. I would feel guilty if I didn’t," he says. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s