James Franklin Short (1902-1986) was an American businessman, rancher, and politician from the state of Oregon. He was a Republican who served one two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives, where he represented a large rural district in central and southcentral Oregon. He also served two separate periods as Oregon's director of agriculture. He was originally appointed to the position by Governor Paul L. Patterson. He then continued his service under Elmo Smith followed by a brief time under Robert D. Holmes. Later, he was re-appointed to the position by Governor Mark Hatfield. In between his periods of service in the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Short was state chairman of Oregon's Republican Party.
Early life
Short was born in Russellville, Missouri, on 5 December 1902, the son of Robert H. and Anna E. Short. In 1906, Short's family moved from Missouri to Oregon, settling near Fort Klamath in southern Oregon. The family moved to central Oregon in 1917, where they established a ranch near Tumalo."GOP Nomination for State Post", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 5 February 1948, p. 1."James F. Short", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 15 April 1986, p. 14."Robert H Short Dies at Age 89", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 16 February 1955, p. 5."Household of Robert H. Short, Tumalo, Deschutes, Oregon, United States"; citing ED 40, sheet 10A, line 37-46, family 191, NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1493; FHL microfilm 1,821,493; United States Census, 1920, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, database accessed 2 February 2019.
Short attended Bend High School for several years before being accepted into a special program at Oregon State College. As part of that program, Short received his high school diploma from Oregon State College. He then went on to study agricultural economics at the college."Jim Short Gets High State Post", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 18 October 1954, p. 1."Six From County in O.A.C. Farm Courses", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 27 December 1920, p. 2. While at college, Short joined Sigma Chi fraternity. He also worked on the editorial staff of the college's monthly magazine, OSU Countryman."Short on Staff of Oregon Countryman", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 12 January 1924, p. 1. While still a student at Oregon State College, Short married Ruth E. Bales, who was from Bend, Oregon. Their wedding ceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington on 28 December 1922."Bend Couples Married", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, 30 December 1922, p. 2."Society", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 6 January 1923, p. 2."Ruth Bales Short", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 7 September 1988, p. 5.
Businessman
After finishing college in 1923, Short returned to central Oregon and went to work for the Central Oregon Irrigation District. He served as the district's assistant superintendent for two years. In 1925, Short joined his father-in-law to incorporate G. W. Bales Warehouse Company, an agricultural wholesale and farm supply business located in Redmond, Oregon. Later, Short bought the business from his father-in-law and renamed it Deschutes Grain and Feed Company. He eventually expanded the business to include a grain processing mill near Klamath Falls, Oregon."New Corporations", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 13 November 1925, p. 10.
Short's business purchased wholesale quantities of wheat, barley, and other grain crops and shipped those products to markets around the country. The company also bought wholesale quantities of wool, potatoes, peas, and turkeys for resale in larger markets. In addition, he sold livestock feed and crop seed to local ranchers and farmers. His company also sold farm machinery and agricultural equipment."Firm in Redmond Ships Much Seed", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 16 September 1932, p. 30."The Deschutes Grain and Fees Co.", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 24 September 1941, p. 33. Eventually, his business employed over 100 people. Short operated his crop marketing and farm supply business until 1946, when he sold his company to the Pacific Supply Cooperative.
Short also owned a 326-acre ranch one mile west of Redmond. Known as the Mile-Away Ranch, Short bought the property in 1942."Mile-Away Ranch Sold", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 23 May 1955, p. 1. He raised registered Shorthorn cattle and prize-winning Corriedale sheep on the ranch."Redmondite Wins Exposition Honors", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 10 October 1949, p. 2. He also raised hay, potatoes, and seed crops at his property."Oregon Agriculture Expert Leaves to Take Over National Farm Post", Lebanon Express, Lebanon, Oregon, 22 October 1954, p. 12."Short Appointed State Agriculture Director", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 10 March 1960, p. 1 & 5.
While he was building his business, Short was also active in civic affairs and numerous professional organizations. In Redmond, he served on the city council and the local school board. He was also president of Redmond's chamber of commerce. During World War II, he served on the Deschutes County draft board. After the war, he was a member of the Deschutes County Veterans Services Committee. "Agency Designated to Care for War Veterans", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 28 November 1944, p. 3. Short was also active in the local Masonic lodge and served on the Deschutes County Fair Association board of directors. At the state level, Short served as president of the Oregon Shorthorn Breeders Association, the Oregon Corriedale Breeders Association, and the Oregon Seed League. He was a board member of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, and the Oregon Feed and Seed Dealers Association. He also served on several national agricultural boards including the National Potato Council and the Pacific Wool Growers Association."W.M. Wilson Again to Head Deschutes Fair", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 24 January 1939, p. 5.
State representative
In 1948, Short decided to run as a Republican for the District 29 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. At that time, District 29 included both Deschutes and Lake counties, two large rural counties in central and southcentral Oregon. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the general election, Short faced Democrat William P. Vernon of Lakeview."Contest Due for Lake-Deschutes Legislative Post", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 6 February 1948, p. 2. The Bend Bulletin endorsed Short, highlighting his success as a rancher and businessman. The newspaper also cited his active engagement in civic affairs as another reason for their endorsement."Short for the Legislature", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 6 February 1948, p. 4. Short won the general election with 4,751 votes against Vernon's 3,678 votes."Hitchcock, Short Conceded Victors", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 5 November 1948, p. 5.
Short took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on 10 January 1949, representing District 29. He worked through the 1949 regular legislative session which ended on 16 April."1949 Regular Session (45th): January 10 – April 16", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 1 February 2019. During the session, he served on the agriculture and education committees."Midstate Solons on Committees", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 10 January 1949, p. 5. With the defeat of William Vernon, Lake County did not have any of its citizens serving in the legislature for the first time in over a decade while there were two representatives from Deschutes County with seats in the 1949 legislature. This was a concern for Lake County voters. However, once the legislative session got underway, the Lake County Examiner commended Short for consulting with members of the Lake County community regarding key issues before the legislature."His Record Pleases", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 28 February 1949, p. 4. After the close of the 1949 legislative session, Short announced he would not run for re-election in 1950. He also offered to introduce Lake County candidates to Deschutes County voters during the next election cycle."Short Will Not Seek Reelection", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 7 May 1949, p. 7. Short also expressed his support for a plan to reapportion state House and Senate seats to ensure rural counties had local representation in the legislature."Deschutes Farm Bureau Plans Action", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 22 February 1950, p. 1.
At the end of the 1949 session, Short was appointed to a special interim committee chartered to study the need for a community college system in Oregon. The committee was directed to report its finding to the 1951 legislature for follow-up action. Just prior to the end of his two-year term, Short and the other members of the interim committee sent their report to the new legislature. The interim committee recommended establishing a network of community colleges across the state. The committee also recommended that the colleges be controlled by local school boards."Community College Bill Introduced", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 16 January 1951, p. 3.
Statewide service
After leaving the legislature, Short returned to his ranch in Redmond. In 1952, Short expanded his land holdings in central Oregon by buying the old Bend-Redmond airfield, a 349-acre property located between the two cities. The airfield was abandoned in the 1930s. By the time he bought the property, it had reverted to pasture land. Short used the property as winter pasture for his livestock."Old Bend Airport Property Sold", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 26 February 1952, p. 1. Short also continued his public service. In 1953, Governor Paul L. Patterson appointed Short to the Upper Columbia River Basin Commission, responsible for overseeing development and conservation of the Columbia River watershed in northeast Oregon. "Short Appointed to Basin Group", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 29 October 1953, p. 1.Halvorson, Gary D., "Water Resources Department Records Guide Scope and Content", Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, 2008. A year later, Short was appointed to a two-year term on the Oregon State Motor Association's board of directors."Short Elected OSMA Director", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 19 March 1954, p. 1.
In 1954, Governor Patterson selected Short to lead the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Short and his wife moved to Salem after he accepted the director of agriculture position. They bought a 250-acre farm near Salem and put his Redmond ranch and livestock up for sale."Short Named Ag Director", Capitol Journal, Salem, Oregon, 10 March 1960, p. 1. It took about a year to sell the Mile-Away Ranch and his other agricultural interests in central Oregon. While in office, Short encouraged the state to take over some federal agriculture programs, either directly or through joint agreements. In addition, he requested that an emergency fund be created to cover the cost of dealing with serious outbreaks of agricultural pests and diseases. Short also recognized that the department's office facilities were inadequate and advocated for a new headquarters building in Salem."The History of the Oregon Department of Agriculture", Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon, May 2014, p. 12. Short served as director of agriculture for two and a half years, first under Governor Patterson; and then after Patterson's unexpected death, under Governor Elmo Smith.