One of the primary and longest-lasting influences Jim Gries has had on the community of Stayton, where he has spent his life, is in the formation of the Stayton Road Runners Club. Founded by Gries and one of his former high school teachers, the club grew organically when, what had been two friends meeting up for an early morning run, began to grow.
“He had some teacher friends, and it turned into this group of guys that went out and did a lot of running together,” Gries explained. “Then we thought we needed to form a club and make it a nonprofit.”
Supporting health and fitness in the Santiam Canyon for the past 40 years, the Road Runners have since built and maintained a system of trails behind Stayton Middle School, hosted numerous community races including the Harvest Festival Run, the Fourth of July Run and the Salem CASA Run, gifted scholarships to area teens and met nearly every day for a predawn run – or, in more recent years, a walk.
“It’s one of those things where we go out at 5:30 in the morning during the week, rain or shine because we know someone else is going to be out there,” Gries explained. “And you don’t want to leave them out there by themselves.”
Married for the past 50 years with three children and six grandchildren, Gries spent his career, initially working for Frank Lumber Company, and then travelling the country building bridges. Retired in 2021, Gries has since taken the opportunity to rejoin the Knights of Columbus, organizing highway cleanup events and fundraisers that provide food baskets to those in need.
“It goes hand-in-hand with my Catholic faith,” Gries said. “And it’s a great organization that does a lot of service and charity.”
Gries also became a member of the advisory board for the Salem branch of the Salvation Army.
“It’s a good group,” he said. “It’s another organization that seems charitable and does good work and I’m trying to represent Stayton and the Santiam Canyon.”
Because, while the Salvation Army was an instrumental part of the response to the Santiam Canyon wildfires in 2020, upon joining the board, Gries observed that there has not been an ongoing relationship between the organization and the area outside of Salem.
“I’m trying to bring some more recognition so they’re more aware of Stayton and the Santiam Canyon,” Gries said. “Because they have some great youth programs, and they have a great GED program, and we have the opportunity to expand it. If we can get some kids who have fallen through the cracks a bus ride in, I’m looking to incorporate it.”
Supporting the local youth is important to Gries who, in 2022, joined a mentorship program piloted by Regis High School, which matched a handful of sophomore boys with mentors from the community.
“It’s expanded to all four grades,” Gries said, describing the program as having grown to include an estimated 14 mentors. “It’s not very demanding. We only meet twice a month. But it’s been a great opportunity. I hope they’ve grown as much as I’ve grown.”
With so many community projects on his plate, it should have come as no surprise to Gries when he learned that his name was submitted for the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce’s annual Distinguished Service Award. But Gries isn’t the kind of man who expects recognition. He was more than a little taken aback – especially when he discovered he was the front-runner.
“All of the other people (nominated) there were very worthy…” he said. “I think in Stayton itself there are so many really good people out here and, other than sometimes the weather, I couldn’t find a better place to be.”
