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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 8, 2004 Former Chamber leader Haas dies By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Bill Haas, a longtime executive director of the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County, died of cancer Friday at his home. Haas, 59, headed the chamber from 1980 until his retirement in 2000. During his tenure, the organization doubled its membership rolls and thrived financially while the region’s economy diversified and grew. "He was a larger-than-life figure," said Brad Hicks, who worked for Haas for seven years before taking the chamber reins in 2000. "I’ll miss him and the whole community will." "Hewas a good leader for the chamber and for business," said John Anhorn, a banking executive who has served on the chamber board. "He wanted to make this a community where people wanted to live." Advertisement An avid golfer, Haas helped form a chamber committee to guide golf course developers through a web of regulations, Anhorn said. He also focused on economic development and offered key support to Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. "He would bring people together for the common good of the community," said Skip Patterson, who has served years on the chamber board and worked with Haas and Anhorn to build support for SOREDI. "He was a strong individual who will be sorely missed by the community." Beyond his work in Medford, Haas was president of the Oregon Chamber Executives in 1985 and 1986 and that organization named him executive of the year in 1988. In the Rogue Valley, he served on the United Way board, the airport commission and an advisory board for Southern Oregon University. He was a member and elder of Medford Neighborhood Church and a past elder at Applegate Christian Fellowship and Rogue Valley Fellowship. "Bill was someone of tremendous faith that he allowed to carry him through difficult situations," Hicks said. Before moving to Medford, Haas worked at chambers of commerce in Fullerton, Calif., and Conejo Valley, Calif. He also was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army between 1966 and 1969. In 1966, he graduated from the University of Southern California and married his wife, Cheryl, who survives. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times