Kevin's Biography
Learning from the past, living for today.
Kevin is an accomplished attorney, legislator, business executive; dedicated community leader; and above all, a devoted husband and father. Through courage and faith, Kevin has held many positions and doesn't plan to slow down anytime soon.
Growing up in South America
Kevin grew up in South America, living in Ecuador, Panama, and Bolivia while his father served in the Foreign Service. When Kevin arrived in Quito, Ecuador, at the age of five, he was placed in first grade at a Catholic school, with all classes in Spanish. Until grade four, Kevin experienced total immersion in education in Spanish. He developed a great sense of Latin American culture. He spent seven years of the next nine, growing up in Latin America.
Back to Virginia for high school
Upon return to the US, Kevin attended high school at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, during its first year of racial integration. The African-American high school had been closed, and most of its students were transferred to Wakefield. Many social and community activities at the school were terminated. Over the next three years, Kevin exercised a leadership role in reestablishing the full range of student social and cultural activities in a fully integrated environment. His running mates for Sophomore Representative on Student Council were the first African Americans elected at Wakefield. Kevin went on to serve as Student Council Vice-President and President. During his presidency, the last major community activity which had been canceled because of integration - an outdoor fair known as Wakefield Day - was reestablished. This event had previously been sponsored by adults in the community, but the Student Council itself sponsored the reestablished Wakefield Day, and it was a great success - for all students.
The college years and meeting Susanna
Kevin entered the University of Virginia in the fall of 1967, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and his Juris Doctor Degree in May of 1974. While attending UV, Kevin met his wife, Susanna, who was studying for her Bachelor of Science in nursing. When Kevin asked Susanna to marry him, she said yes but told him that she had wanted to be a nurse since she was a little girl and he needed to respect that; she continues as a Registered Nurse to this day, always with Kevin's full support. Kevin and Susanna were married in June of 1974. He and Susanna picked Oregon to become their home where they raised their three children: Nicholas, Gabriel and Emily. Kevin and Susanna have been married for 47 years and have four grandchildren.
​
Click here to learn more about Kevin's impact on breaking barriers at the University of Virginia.
From law school to practicing attorney
During his first eight years of practice, he served as a law clerk to the Oregon Court of Appeals, as an Assistant Attorney General for Oregon, as an Assistant Attorney General for the U. S. Territory of Guam, and as an Administrative Law Judge for Oregon. From 1980 to 1983, Kevin engaged in insurance defense legal practice with a Portland law firm. In January 1986, he opened his own law firm in Salem, where he and his staff handle legal affairs for businesses and nonprofits.
Participating in life-long service
Kevin has been active in many civic organizations, including the East Salem Rotary Club, where he has been a member since 1982, and where he has served on the board of directors and as president. Since 1984, Kevin has been on the Board of Directors of the Salem Catholic Schools Foundation. He served as President of the Foundation for 18 years. He is now President of the Salem Area Catholic Schools Association, which provides administrative and financial support to all the Catholic schools in the Salem area.
Paving the way for Catholic education
In 1995, Kevin led a group of citizens who founded Blanchet Catholic School, a mid-high and high school owned by the community but recognized as a Catholic school by the Archdiocese of Portland. Kevin served continuously as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Blanchet Catholic School from its incorporation in March 1995 until June 2018. He remains on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
