“My vision of downtown Medford is every storefront filled with the types of businesses that attract shoppers, diners, and lodging guests,” said John Snider, who has been one of Downtown Medford’s strongest supporters and is being honored as our Featured Partner this month.
John grew up in Medford in the ‘50s and has many wonderful memories. “The town was much smaller then, and the times were more innocent and wholesome. Our generation was made up of the children of the Greatest Generation. Our parents had solid values, faith in the future of our country, and a sense of community. It was a time of optimism. Medford High Black Tornado football was a dominant force in the community, and Friday nights in the fall were very special.
I recall a Downtown Medford that was thriving and vibrant. It seemed like every storefront window was alive with displays, and I remember people would go downtown and walk for blocks to ‘window shop.’ I still remember some of those displays. Downtown merchants knew our families by name, and chain stores of any kind were scarce. As I reflect back, most stores bore the name of the owner. The owners took pride in their businesses, and they had a pride of ownership in Downtown Medford,” recalled John.
John graduated from the University of Oregon in 1965 and went to work for PepsiCo, and then managed his family business, Sinder’s Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, until the business sold. After that, he started his own advertising agency.
The career in advertising morphed into his working for three different Congressmen as District Director, most notably Congressman Bob Smith and Congressman Greg Walden. “Each congressional office has an operational function in the state as well as a staff in DC. A District Director manages the in-state functions. I always had a great staff, and they were dedicated to helping people handle problems with various federal agencies. It was the non-partisan side of congressional service,” said John.
In 2011, after 18 years of congressional service, John decided to retire and do some traveling with his wife, focus on his family, and work on some projects around the house. Then he got a call from Ron Kramer, who was Executive Director of Jefferson Public Radio at the time, telling him that JPR Foundation had acquired the long-shuttered Holly Theatre and asking him to help spearhead the effort to bring The Holly back to life. John ended up serving as Co-Chair of The Holly Restoration Effort, along with former Executive Director of Britt, Ron McUne, and Karen Doolen. A myriad of government agencies, private foundations, and individuals stepped up over a period of 12 years to fund what turned out to be a $13 million project.
“Restoring the Holly Theatre was so exciting because we all knew what an accelerant it would be to the process of bringing Medford back. On Friday night (March 14), both the Holly and the Craterian had full houses and put almost 2,000 smiling and happy people back on the streets of Medford. That was a huge boost to the economy and a reflection of a newly optimistic community. New lodging, dining, and retail opportunities are being announced every day, all stimulating the economy,” said John.
“When I learned that the DMA was being formed, I joined as a member immediately. I have always felt that downtown was the image of our community, and it was loaded with potential. Whether you have lived here forever or if you just moved here, the health of our downtown is a reflection of the community we call home. The downtown is what people see when they think of Medford. With classic buildings, it is an inherently beautiful town with enormous potential that is unique and could not be created with new structures.
Of course, I was able to be part of restoring the Holly Theatre, but that is not why I joined DMA. I joined DMA as a private citizen because I truly want to see the revitalized downtown that I know is going to happen become a reality.
The DMA has proven itself to be a strong advocate for an exciting downtown. DMA business members are working hard to present the best quality and service to downtown patrons. It’s all coming together. I honestly believe that in less than five years, Medford will be transformed, and we will all be proud of what that vision delivers.
I hope people realize that they don’t have to have a business downtown to be a member of DMA and a strong supporter of a revitalized Medford. Imagine the power of a guild of patrons who shop and dine downtown and are advocating for downtown improvements, and want to make Downtown Medford special for everyone. I believe the community pride is there.
One simple and inexpensive membership in DMA is a great place to start!” concluded John.
DMA thanks John Snider for his years of support and is proud to honor him as our Featured Partner.