Retired PUD 3 Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson passed away June 14 at the age of 92. He had served on the PUD 3 board from January 1995 until December 2022, but his service to his community extended beyond that.
“Not only did Bruce serve our community with his years as a PUD 3 commissioner, but he also served our community as a business owner and served our nation as an Army veteran,” PUD 3 CEO Annette Creekpaum said. “His experience helped guide PUD 3 to become the strong organization it is today.”
During his military career, Jorgenson held several command officer appointments in multiple countries. He led a historic endeavor in the aftermath of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, assigned to direct helicopter rescue operations, recovering around 40 trapped or injured persons. For his Army service in Korea, he was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired as a colonel.
In his civilian career, Jorgenson co-founded KMAS Radio in Shelton in 1962 with one partner, later becoming the sole owner. His career was often interrupted by his military tours, ranging from weeks at a time to two years. He sold his interest in KMAS in 1996.
In 1994, Jorgenson was elected to serve as a PUD 3 commissioner. He started his term in January 1995, serving for 28 years until retiring in December 2022. During that time, he served 10 years as president of the board. Some of the challenges and opportunities he faced included the Energy Crisis of 2001, the expansion of broadband services, increased customer growth leading to the construction of several new substations, contract negotiations with Bonneville Power Administration, high-stakes legislative battles at both the state and federal levels, and much more.
Bruce Jorgenson served eight years as chair of the Washington PUD Association’s former “Legislative Committee.” Among other accomplishments during his service, the committee helped win wholesale telecommunications authority for PUDs in 2000.
Commissioner Jorgenson was a member of the former WPUDA building committee. In 2007, WPUDA moved into its headquarters in Olympia - the first new-construction office building in Washington State to receive “platinum” designation under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Jorgenson had the honor to put one of the first shovels in the dirt at the ground-breaking.
More information regarding memorial services will be determined soon.