Bill Leep

Former Councilor Bill Leep passed away on July 10 after a multi-year battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was surrounded by family at the Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland at the time.

Leep was 57 and had resided in the Rogue Valley for 30 years, during which time he served as a Jacksonville Planning Commissioner for 12 years and as a City Councilor for 10 years. Leep was also a co-owner of Keller Williams Realty and a partner in the Paradise Ranch development in Grants Pass.

In Jacksonville, Leep may be best remembered for his contribution to the city during the mid-to-late 1990’s when real estate and city development projects were booming.

Former City Councilor John Dodero knew Leep first as a neighbor and then as a fellow Councilor. “Bill lived up street from me and I encouraged him to get involved because his development experience was needed on the Planning Commisison.”  Leep worked with Dodero on Planning and Council for 14+ years. “Bill’s development experience helped the commission and council understand the developer’s point of view. Bill represented the city’s needs and balanced the two sides,” Dodero noted.

Former Mayor Jim Lewis, who spent ten years working with Leep on the Council, remarked, “Bill was really analytical and did not come to conclusions in the heat of the moment…he did his homework and looked at all sides of the issues.”

During Leep’s tenure on Planning and Council, Jacksonville underwent enormous changes with the introduction of the Regional Problem Solving process, (Leep was the city representative to RPS), the building of the Presbyterian Church, the development of Nunan Square, the creation of the Jacksonville Woodlands trail system, a real estate boom, the downtown Historic Core upgrade project and a host of other citywide projects.

Lewis noted, “This was a very busy, angst-filled time for the business community during those projects. As Mayor, I could always count on Bill to have studied all the issues…he was not a partisan and reached decisions logically. He came to meetings prepared.”

John Dodero recalls, “Bill understood financing and made really good suggestions to the developers that ultimately benefited everyone involved. He was a very interesting guy… an aggressive developer who was sensitive to the environment and the community. He brought a really unique perspective.”

Local Realtor Graham Farran was a colleague and good friend of Leep’s and said, “Bill was so busy with his real estate and development business and serving on the Planning Commission and Council, but always had time to help anyone who asked. He was a great guy… he loved Paradise Ranch and turned it into a beautiful property – I hope someday he will get the credit for it he deserves.”

Jim Lewis remembered Leep loved riding his bike all over Jacksonville and that he loved contributing energy to Jacksonville Elementary, where his two sons attended school. “He served Jacksonville well and should be remembered as someone who contributed to the betterment of town,” Lewis concluded.

A gathering of Bill Leep’s friends will be held in Lake Oswego on September 2. For details on this service and information on medical expense contributions, please contact his sister, Meri Hayworth at 303-278-2789 or by email at bomooney@mindspring.com.