PDG John G Cox
District Governor 2009-2010
PDG John & Charlene Cox
Born in Portland on July 2, 1942, John was raised in Klamath Falls and graduated from Klamath Union High School. He attended the University of Oregon where he received a BA in Political Science and met his future wife Charlene, marrying in 1964. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
John received his law degree from Willamette University with honors and worked two years in Lane County DA’s office. He is a founding partner of his law firm that was formed in 1970. The firm has been rated three times, by its employees, as one of top fifty small businesses in Oregon.
John was commissioned through ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate and went on to serve two years on active duty at the JFK Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg. With thirty years in the active and reserve Army, John has attained the rank of full Colonel. He has participated in Habitat for Humanity projects in the Philippines and in Eugene.
As an active member of the Rotary Club of Eugene, John has served on several club committees, the board of directors, and in 2002-2003 was club president. He graduated from the Leadership Academy in 2004. He and Charlene have hosted a number of international Youth Exchange students and inbound GSE team members. John led the district GSE team to Indonesia in 1997-1998. As a result of the GSE trip, he sponsored two successful WSC projects in Indonesia. He is now actively pursuing a clean water project in Kenya.
At the district level, John served on a number of committees and chaired the district GSE committee from 2003-2005.
As dedicated supporters of The Rotary Foundation, John and Charlene are Paul Harris Society members, Level Two Major Donors and Level Four Bequest Society members.
In their spare time, John and Charlene participate in the Rotarian International Travel and Hosting Fellowship. They both enjoy hiking, reading and traveling. But most of all, they enjoy spending time with their family.
