Gary Coe

An entrepreneur many times over, towing industry leader Gary Coe maintains active involvement in local and state government. He has testified numerous times in the Oregon state capital, beginning in 1981, when he presented expert opinion on legislation regarding the use of flatbed "car carrier" tow trucks. In the years following, Gary Coe returned to each session to advise on various business matters and, in 2012, he made the decision to run for the State Senate.

Gary Coe comes to his campaign with a strong history of organizational leadership. In 1978, he co-founded the Oregon Tow Truck Association and, in 1979, he joined with 25 fellow towing-company owners to form the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA). He has since served several terms as President of both organizations and continues as a permanent member of each group's Board of Directors. Locally, Gary Coe has served as President of the Central Eastside Industrial Council, which focuses its efforts on preserving the area's industrial character. During the two years of his presidency, Gary Coe led the group in a major initiative aimed at promoting access to a major nearby highway.

In addition to his political and community work, Gary Coe owns or serves as partner in a total of eight companies. This list includes Speed's Auto Services Group, an outgrowth of the family business in which he first began in 1966. He also owns several financing and lien recovery companies, two active towing businesses, and a towing-focused parts dealership.

Gary Coe has been recognized with a number of community service awards, including Volunteers of America's Corporate Citizenship Award and the Oregon Enterprise Forum's Service Entrepreneur of the Year Award.