William “Bill” Thorndike Jr., a community leader and business figure in Medford, was recently honored at a City Council meeting by Mayor Michael Zarosinski following his passing last Saturday. "Bill was more than a successful businessman—he was a dedicated advocate for Medford and Southern Oregon," stated Mayor Zarosinski, according to the City of Medford.
Born on December 15, 1953, in Rogue Valley, he graduated from Medford Public Schools in 1972 and earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Lewis & Clark College. He joined the family business, Medford Fabrication, a custom steel company founded in the 1940s, and expanded it to serve a global market. He contributed to the community through his work with organizations such as the Crater Lake National Park Trust, Pacific Retirement Services, Asante Health System, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., and the Medford 2040 Vision Task Force, as reported by the City of Medford.
Bill Thorndike, who received several honors during his lifetime, including the President’s Medal from Southern Oregon University in 1996 and the First Citizen Award in 2007, was recognized for his contributions to Southern Oregon. Governor Tina Kotek said, "I am sad to hear about the passing of Bill Thorndike. Oregonians can thank him for his entrepreneurship and unwavering charity and service to others, especially his neighbors in Southern Oregon. Sending love to his family today." Medford Mayor Zarosinski added, “On behalf of the City of Medford, we extend our deepest condolences to Thorndike’s family, friends, and colleagues. Our community is stronger because of him, and his legacy will continue to inspire us," as stated by the City of Medford.
