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OSU alum: John Loosley, current owner of Loosley Development Co. and former owner of Roseburg Paving, was recently inducted into the Oregon State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame recently for his career contributions to society.
Becoming part of an academic hall of fame is an achievement many might boast about. Not John Loosley.
Not even after the Roseburg resident was inducted into the Oregon State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame Feb. 17.
John Loosley, 78, is humble about it all.
"I thought they had the wrong guy," he said. "How many people have graduated in engineering at Oregon State University in the last 45 years? There's a ton of them. To be selected for that is a real honor."
Loosley, who graduated in 1949, was honored at the Oregon Stater Awards, where graduates are recognized for their career contributions to society. The award is reserved for the school's most distinguished alumni.
Just don't tell Loosley, who owned Roseburg Paving Co. for 35 years until 2000.
Sure, he was excited. In fact, he said he was smiling from ear to ear at the ceremony. So was his family. He just doesn't think about accolades much. Instead, he speaks with more pride talking about Roseburg Paving's growth over the years.
It went from 20 employees when he and his family took ownership in 1965, to 200 when his family sold it. By then, the company also owned Beaver State Inc.
Loosley's proud of that. True to form, he's also humble about it.
"We were fortunate to grow with the area," he said.
His greatest pride as a businessman wasn't building up his companies. Instead, it was simply meeting the needs of his customers.
That's why Roseburg Paving didn't grow outside of Douglas County.
"Our desire was to take care of the local business," Loosley said. "We had no desire to become a large contractor."
He placed as much importance on giving back to the community as he did being an employer in it.
First it was with the Boy Scouts and YMCA, as his children were growing up. Eventually Loosley became involved with Sunrise Enterprises, Wildlife Safari and the Community Cancer Foundation, among others.
Not even after the Roseburg resident was inducted into the Oregon State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame Feb. 17.
John Loosley, 78, is humble about it all.
"I thought they had the wrong guy," he said. "How many people have graduated in engineering at Oregon State University in the last 45 years? There's a ton of them. To be selected for that is a real honor."
Loosley, who graduated in 1949, was honored at the Oregon Stater Awards, where graduates are recognized for their career contributions to society. The award is reserved for the school's most distinguished alumni.
Just don't tell Loosley, who owned Roseburg Paving Co. for 35 years until 2000.
Sure, he was excited. In fact, he said he was smiling from ear to ear at the ceremony. So was his family. He just doesn't think about accolades much. Instead, he speaks with more pride talking about Roseburg Paving's growth over the years.
It went from 20 employees when he and his family took ownership in 1965, to 200 when his family sold it. By then, the company also owned Beaver State Inc.
Loosley's proud of that. True to form, he's also humble about it.
"We were fortunate to grow with the area," he said.
His greatest pride as a businessman wasn't building up his companies. Instead, it was simply meeting the needs of his customers.
That's why Roseburg Paving didn't grow outside of Douglas County.
"Our desire was to take care of the local business," Loosley said. "We had no desire to become a large contractor."
He placed as much importance on giving back to the community as he did being an employer in it.
First it was with the Boy Scouts and YMCA, as his children were growing up. Eventually Loosley became involved with Sunrise Enterprises, Wildlife Safari and the Community Cancer Foundation, among others.
Loosley is still actively involved with those latter three. Loosley said anyone who gets their livelihood from a community, owes it to that community to give back.
"I feel that very strongly," he said.
Loosley also takes a lot of pride in his son, Steve Loosley, following in his career path.
The younger Loosley went to Oregon State University like his father. He got a degree in engineering like his father. And he ran Roseburg Paving for the last five years it was under the family's ownership.
Even so, dad was always in charge.
"I always felt like I worked for my dad, even if he wasn't the boss," Steve Loosley said. "When you have somebody that's as good in business as my dad is, when he speaks, after a while, you figure out you better be listening, because his odds of being right are awfully high."
Steve Loosley said he was "elated" when he heard about the hall of fame honor his father earned. It meant even more to him when he learned the company his father was joining.
Loosley said many of the previous honorees were leaders and pioneers in their fields. Several OSU professors who were important in his academic and professional career were also there.
"I felt especially proud that my father was joining this elite group of engineers that had been so influential previously in my life," he said.
Loosley guesses that joining such company is why his father is so humble about the experience.
John Loosley was given a plaque on stage in front of the hundreds of people gathered for the event. Afterward, he said he just felt humble.
He couldn't elaborate on that feeling, because that is simply what it was, he said.
"It's just a humbling experience, as far as I'm concerned," Loosley said.
His career isn't done yet, either. Loosley, along with his family, runs Loosley Development Co. It is developing three area subdivisions.
Though he didn't officially retire, he claims to be "partly" retired. Even so, he seems to stay as busy as any professional half his age.
Loosley also doesn't have a full retirement even in his sights.
"Someday, I'm sure I will," he said. "I hope it's a little ways off yet."
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
"I feel that very strongly," he said.
Loosley also takes a lot of pride in his son, Steve Loosley, following in his career path.
The younger Loosley went to Oregon State University like his father. He got a degree in engineering like his father. And he ran Roseburg Paving for the last five years it was under the family's ownership.
Even so, dad was always in charge.
"I always felt like I worked for my dad, even if he wasn't the boss," Steve Loosley said. "When you have somebody that's as good in business as my dad is, when he speaks, after a while, you figure out you better be listening, because his odds of being right are awfully high."
Steve Loosley said he was "elated" when he heard about the hall of fame honor his father earned. It meant even more to him when he learned the company his father was joining.
Loosley said many of the previous honorees were leaders and pioneers in their fields. Several OSU professors who were important in his academic and professional career were also there.
"I felt especially proud that my father was joining this elite group of engineers that had been so influential previously in my life," he said.
Loosley guesses that joining such company is why his father is so humble about the experience.
John Loosley was given a plaque on stage in front of the hundreds of people gathered for the event. Afterward, he said he just felt humble.
He couldn't elaborate on that feeling, because that is simply what it was, he said.
"It's just a humbling experience, as far as I'm concerned," Loosley said.
His career isn't done yet, either. Loosley, along with his family, runs Loosley Development Co. It is developing three area subdivisions.
Though he didn't officially retire, he claims to be "partly" retired. Even so, he seems to stay as busy as any professional half his age.
Loosley also doesn't have a full retirement even in his sights.
"Someday, I'm sure I will," he said. "I hope it's a little ways off yet."
* You can reach reporter Paul Craig at 957-4211 or by e-mail at pcraig@newsreview.info.
John Loosley glance
<b>WHO:</b> John Loosley, 78, recently inducted into the Oregon State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame.
<b>CAREER:</b> After graduating from OSU in 1949, he worked for three years as assistant city engineer in Astoria. He then spent three years as city engineer of Roseburg. In 1955 he went to work for Roseburg Paving Co. “It was just a job when I started there,” he said. In 1965, he took over ownership of the company. The Loosley family owned and operated the business, along with Beaver State Inc. and several other local companies, until selling it all in 2000. <b>ON RUNNING A BUSINESS:</b> Loosley said he didn’t have any formal training in business operations when he became the owner of Roseburg Paving. He and his family simply learned it by “trial and error.” “We just found it out as we went along,” he said. <b>FAMILY:</b> Married to wife Jean for 57 years. They have a son, Steve, and daughter Judy. They also have three grandchildren. |
