Gerry Cameron is dedicated to higher education access because a
scholarship profoundly altered the course of his life. Gerry is a past
chair and trustee of the UO Foundation Board, served on the UO Portland
Regional Council, and was a member of the UO Campaign Leadership
Committee for Campaign Oregon. Gerry and his wife Marilyn have supported
Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships and Lundquist College of Business
scholarships.
Gerry Cameron grew up in abject poverty. He was raised by a his mother
until the age of six when he and his younger brother were sent to
various boarding homes throughout the Pacific Northwest as his mother
could no longer afford to support them in her home. He and his brother
lived away from her for seven years. At age 13, Gerry was able to rejoin
his mother. Of all the places that he stayed during those seven years,
his favorite was a farm in Central Washington. Gerry hoped and planned
to return to the farm and work there when he finished high school. That
plan began to change during his senior year when Gerry was handpicked to
join a group of 25 students for an elite class sponsored by the Ford
Foundation. He was encouraged by his teacher, Mrs. Metcalf to apply for
the U.S. Bank scholarship program. He did and Gerry was selected along
with fellow Duck George Morgan to work for U.S. Bank for 15 months, then
attend college. Gerry is passionate about funding scholarships because,
as he put it, “I no more thought of going to college than flying to the
moon.”
The U.S. Bank Scholarship opened the door to a college degree, which
changed the course of his career and life. On February 6, 1956 Gerry
spent 10 cents to ride the bus downtown to earn $1.10 an hour, Monday
through Saturday, in the U.S. Bank training program. He wore the same
suit every day. In the fall of 1957, he enrolled in the University of
Oregon and officially became a Duck for life.
After attending the UO as a student in the U.S. National Bank of
Oregon’s work/college program, Gerry worked his way up U.S. Bancorp’s
corporate ladder, serving as chairman and CEO before retiring in 1998.
He enjoyed a 43-year career with U.S. Bank and credits John Elorriaga,
his mentor, and all of the amazing colleagues for helping to make it
happen. He later served as chairman of The Regence Group from January
2004 to June 2005.
Gerry still marvels at the fact he went from “tramping” mint on the farm
in Washington to a fulfilling career that included serving on many
prestigious boards and even meeting the Queen of England on behalf of
U.S. Bank, all because he was given the opportunity to prove his mettle
as a student back in 1956.
Gerry continues to celebrate 55 years of loving marriage with Marilyn,
whom he met while they both worked at U.S. Bank. They have two children,
Sue (David) and Paul (Megan) and four grandsons, Kellen, Ross, Luke,
and Colin. Together Gerry and Marilyn have positively impacted hundreds
of students across the state with their investments in scholarships for
deserving students. Their generous gift named the Marilyn C. and Gerry
B. Cameron Center for Finance and Securities Analysis in the Lundquist
College of Business, and the couple has endowed the Gerry and Marilyn
Cameron Chair of Finance.
Career: U.S. Bank
-
First day on February 6, 1956
- 1956-1972 - Various retail banking positions
- 1969-1972 - Branch Manager, Lombard and Emerald
- 1972-1974 - Manager, Bybee Milwaukie Branch
- 1974-1976 - Manager, Peninsula Branch
- 1976-1978 - President, U.S. Creditcorp
- 1978-1979 - Senior Vice President & Manager, Eastern Region
- 1979-1987 - Executive Vice President
- 1987-1988 - Chairman, CEO, and Director of Old National Bank of Washington
- 1988-1991 - President, COO, and Director, U.S. Bank of Washington
- 1991-1993 - President, CEO, and Director, U.S. Bank of Washington Vice Chairman, U.S. Bancorp
- 1993-1998 - Chairman and CEO, U.S. Bancorp
Civic leadership: Gerry Cameron has been involved in
numerous community and civic organizations. He was the director of the
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and a member of the Bankers
Roundtable. He was also chairman of the Advisory Board of the Pacific
Rim Bankers Program, and on the Board of Directors for the Oregon
Independent College Foundation, Inc., The American Bankers Association,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oregon, The Benchmark Group, and the
Oregon Business Council. Previously, Gerry served as director of the
Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Board of San Francisco; as
president of Youth Investment; as vice chairman of the Alliance for
Education; as chairman of the board of the Washington Community
Reinvestment Association; and on the President’s Council for Eastern
Washington University. He additionally has served on:
- University of Oregon Foundation - 6 years - 2nd VP, 1st VP, Chairman
- Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation - 10 years - Director, Lead Director
- Tektronix - 12 years - Director (6 years), Lead Director (6 years)
- United Way (Columbia-Willamette) - 1 year - Chairman of the Board
- King County United Way - 2-3 years - Director
- Seattle Branch of the Federal Reserve Board - 4 years - Director (appointed)
- Portland Branch of the Federal Reserve Board - 1 year - Director (appointed)
- San Francisco Branch of the Federal
Reserve Board - 3 years - Director (elected by the largest banks in the
12th District of the Federal Reserve Board)
- Youth Investment - 3 years - President and program founder
- Oregon Symphony Board - 6 years - Director (3 years), Treasurer (3 years)
- Portland State University Foundation - 3 years - Director
- Pacific Coast Banking School Hall of Fame