Terence H. Foley, vice president and general manager of the Bend Water, Light & Power Company and organizer and vice president and general manager of the Deschutes Ice Company, displays in the conduct of his business enterprises qualities which show him to be thoroughly conversant with modern day business conditions. He is always actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progressiveness that accomplishes results, and success is attending his well defined efforts.
A native of Canada, Terence H. Foley was born at Montreal in 1879, a son of John and Mary (Duke) Foley, both of whom have passed away. For many years his father was a seafaring man and his death occurred in 1900. Mrs. Foley’s demise occurred in Montreal in 1918.
At the age of four years Mr. Foley removed with his parents to Boston, Massachusetts, and there he received his primary and high school education. At an early age he showed a marked leaning toward electricity and in due time took a course in Gray’s Electrical College, a technical institution in Boston. In 1903 he made his initial step into that line of business and the following year went up into the Yukon territory. In 1905 he became manager of the Northern Commercial Company, which operated the water, light and power plant at Fairbanks, Alaska, and he remained with that concern as manager until 1910. In that year he came to Oregon and locating in Bend, became associated with the electric company of that place. In 1912, upon the reorganization of the company as the Bend Water, Light & Power Company, he became vice president and general manager of the company and is still active in those positions. By reason of close application and thoroughness Mr. Foley has brought to his company a great degree of success. He is a firm believer in serving the public at low rates, thereby widening the field of the company, which is the largest in the northwest. His policy has proved very successful not only in winning the good will and confidence of all of its customers but in paying a good interest on the six hundred thousand dollar investment. It is said that the rate for cooking by electricity in Bend is the lowest in the surrounding country. Mr. Foley is not only interested in that company but as one of the organizers of the Deschutes Ice Company is vice president and general manager of that corporation. He has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of Bend and is ex president of the Bend Commercial Club, of which body he is now a director; is president of the Bend Holding Company, which body built the handsome gymnasium now occupied by the American Legion; is chairman of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A.; and is chairman of the public policy committee of the Northwest Light & Power Association. Mr. Foley was the organizer of the Bend fire department, considered the best in the state, and was its first executive.
In 1906 occurred the marriage of Mr. Foley and Miss Cecile Adams, a daughter of W. H. Adams, one of the pioneer attorneys of Portland. He was one of the earliest members of the legal profession in that city and held the office of city attorney for many years. He is also credited with being one of the three organizers of the republican party in Oregon. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Foley three children have been born: William T., a high school student; Maryellen, a grade school pupil; and Robert H. Mrs. Foley is a member of the Baptist church and is superintendent of the Sunday school. She is not only active in church work and in the social and club circles of the city, but is a model mother and an excellent housewife.
Mr. Foley’s fraternal affiliations are confined to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. During the World war he was one of the most devoted workers in central Oregon. He was county chairman of the Red Cross, chairman of the Y. M. C. A., county chairman for all the various drives, and was a member of the Liberty Loan board. Mr. Foley is accounted one of the energetic, prosperous and capable business men of the town, a stanch supporter of all worthy and beneficial movements, and a general favorite among those with whom he has come into contact. While exceedingly active and capable in civic affairs, the two most noticeable characteristics of Mr. Foley are genuine modesty and a diffident geniality.
From: History of Oregon Illustrated, Vol. 3
BY: Charles H. Carney
The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company
Chicago – Portland 1922
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