Meet us

Commissioners

The Port of Whitman County Commissioners set policy, approve all expenditures of the Port, and appoint the Executive Director and Port Attorney. Commissioners serve six-year terms. While all Commissioners are elected on a countywide basis, each must live in a specific district within Whitman County. The Commission officer positions of president, vice president and secretary change every year so each Commissioner holds every position twice during a six-year term. If you would like to contact one of the Port Commissioners, feel free to call them at 509-397-3791, send a fax to 509-397-4758, click on their name to send an email, or write a letter and mail it to: Port of Whitman County, 302 N. Mill St., Colfax WA 99111.

John E. Love

Rear Admiral John E. Love, USNR (ret.) has served on the Port Commission since 1995, representing District 1. He is also the President of J.E. Love Company. The company manufactures of agri-nursery/forestry equipment. His civic and community activities include past chair of the Eastern Washington University Foundation, Treasurer of the Garfield Christian Church, member of the Executive Board of the Inland Empire Council-Boy Scouts of America and member of the Garfield Chamber of Commerce. He also holds several professional positions with banks and businesses in Whitman County. John also serves on the Executive Board of the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA). John and his wife, Sue, have 4 children and make their home in Garfield, Washington. Commissioner Love email

Dan Boone

Dan Boone has served on the Port Commission since 2000, representing District 2. Born in Pullman, Dan has lived his entire life in Whitman County. Dan left the area only once to serve a two-year tour of duty with the Coast Guard at the end of World War II. He returned in 1947 to help out on the 500-acre family farm and married his wife, Nancy, in 1949. Six children, ten grandchildren and fifty years later, the Boone family now farms 3,500 acres near Pullman. In his long history of public service, Dan served on the Pullman School Board from 1970 to 1978 and was appointed as a County Commissioner in 1978. Dan went on to be reelected for two additional terms as Whitman County Commissioner and retired in 1988. He is the past President of the six state Pacific Rim RC&D (Resource Conservation and Development Council) and currently serves on the national, state and local RC&D councils. Dan is especially interested in economic development in the rural communities of Whitman County and would like to foster a united spirit among the smaller communities to encourage growth and new prosperity countywide, while preserving the character and quality of life for their residents. Commissioner Boone email

Bob Gronholz

Bob Gronholz has served on the Port Commission since 1997, representing District 3. Bob was born in Minnesota and relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1951 after being posted to Fairchild Air Force base in Spokane. After leaving the Air Force, Bob worked for many years in the grocery business as an owner and manager of stores throughout Washington. He moved to Colfax 26 years ago with his wife, Carol, and their three children. After operating a grocery store for almost twenty years in Colfax, he opted for a change and opened Town and Country Menswear in 1986. Heavily involved with economic development issues through his work at the Colfax Chamber of Commerce and Whitman County Business Development Association, Bob is especially interested in economic development in the small, rural towns of Whitman County. Commissioner Gronholz email

Staff

If you would like to contact one of the staff members feel free to call them at 509-397-3791, send a fax to 509-397-4758, click on their name to send an email, or write a letter and mail it to: Port of Whitman, 302 N. Mill St., Colfax WA 99111.