Board of Directors

Samuel H. Smith was selected by the Washington State University Board of Regents on March 7, 1985, to serve as the institution's eighth president. He took office at age 45 on July 1, 1985, and served for 15 years.

A hallmark of the Smith administration was the establishment in 1989 of regional WSU campuses in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Vancouver to serve place-bound and job-bound students. Learning centers and award-winning Extended Degree Programs, now called the Distance Degree Programs, further expanded access to the University that has its historic main campus in Pullman. During 1985-2000, more than one-third of all WSU graduates had their academic degrees granted by President Smith.

Smith earned two plant pathology degrees from the University of California Berkley, a bachelor's in 1961 and a Ph. D. in 1964. He was a NATO postdoctoral fellow at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in England in 1964-1965. He has honorary doctoral degrees from Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan, and Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, Russia.

Born Feb. 4, 1940, in Salinas, California, Smith came to WSU after serving 16 years at Pennsylvania State University, initially as a faculty member, then department head, and finally, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of both the Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station. Prior to Penn State, he was a member of the faculty at the University of California Berkeley.

Under Smith's leadership, WSU grew in size and stature. Its teaching, research, and public service activities received worldwide recognition. Strengthening undergraduate and graduate education, placing an international imprint on programs, and increasing opportunities for women and minorities were among his priorities.

Smith led Campaign WSU, the University's first comprehensive fund-raising effort that attracted $275.4 million in private support, substantially over its $250 million goal. The campaign transformed the university's ability to serve students and the state of Washington by supporting scholarships, faculty recruitment and retention, learning technology and statewide education.
From 1997-99, he served as chair of the Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, one of a series of leadership positions he held during a major reorganization of NCAA governance.

In 2000, Smith chaired the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the nation's oldest higher education association. He also served on NASULGC's Kellogg Commission on the Future of the State and Land-Grant Universities. The commission planned for change and improvement of state universities and land-grant colleges for the 21st century.

Smith concluded his presidency on June 8, 2000. As president emeritus, he established an office at WSU West in Seattle, where he and his wife, Patricia, live. The Smiths continue to support the WSU Museum of Art. They have attracted world-class artwork for display in the Samuel H. Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, named for Smith in 2002, the year it opened on the Pullman campus.

After leaving the presidency, he continued as a trustee of the Western Governors University, of which WSU is a founding member, and serves on the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, as Talaris Research Institute board chair, and director of the Washington Education Foundation, which provides college scholarships and mentoring to low-income, high-potential students.  Smith served as the President of the 10-99 Foundation and continues to serve law enforcement families as President of Behind the Badge Foundation.

On New Year’s Eve of 1988, Cheryl’s father, Robert W. Varner, Jr., was shot multiple times while pulling over a stolen vehicle on I-40 near Winslow, Arizona. His brain stem was severed by one of many rounds of gunfire.  He died from his injuries on January 2, 1989. 

Cheryl is a dedicated supporter of law enforcement and families of line of duty death.  She brings more than 15 years of non-profit service to Behind the Badge Foundation. She served on the boards of the Arizona and Washington Chapters of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS); she is currently the board president for Helping Hands for the Disabled, and serves on the Washington State Boarding Home Advisory Board.  Cheryl served as the secretary of Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation for two years.

Cheryl is a paralegal for a financial services company in Tacoma, Washington. Cheryl, her husband Marty, and daughter Laura live in Bremerton.

Susan serves as the Vice President of Patrick Dunn & Associates, LTD, a government relations firm in Seattle and Olympia. She was employed by the State of Washington for 30 years in administrative and managerial positions in the Governor’s Office, Office of Planning and Community Affairs, Employment Security Department and Department of Community Development.  She is a graduate of Centralia College and the University of Washington in Business Administration.  Sue was honored as the 1992 Distinguished Alumnus of Centralia College.  She served as the construction committee co-chair for the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial which was completed in 2006.  Currently she is a member and past president of the board of the E.B. Dunn Historic Garden Trust (The Dunn Gardens).  Susan is married to Patrick Dunn and has two daughters, Sara VanMeter and Katherine Dunn.

Bruce R. McCaw is currently co-chair of Talaris Research Institute and Chairman Emeritus of Pistol Creek Company. McCaw was a co-founder of McCaw Cellular Communications, Inc., serving as a member of the Board of Directors from 1971 to 1994, when the company was sold to AT&T; a Director of Claircom Communications from 1990 to 1996; co-founder, vice president and director of Horizon Air from 1981 to 1987; and chairman and founder of Forbes Westar, Inc. from 1971 to 1994. In addition, McCaw serves in various capacities for several charitable foundations and organizations including the Apex Foundation and the Friendship Foundation. He is a trustee and former chairman of the Museum of Flight, a trustee of St. Thomas School and Seattle Opera, and a former director of Alaska Air Group.

Assistant Chief Metz commands the Investigations Bureau for Seattle Police Department. Investigations oversees homicide, robbery, fraud, auto theft, narcotics, major crimes investigation, Internet crimes against children, vice, domestic violence, sexual assault, and CSI Units. Nick has been with the Seattle Police Department for over 23 years.

As an assistant chief Nick commanded both the Employee & Community Support Bureau and Operations Bureau #1. Chief Metz graduated from City University with a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University. He is an alumnus of Leadership Tomorrow's Class of 2000, sponsored by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Nick served on the Board of Directors of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation before joining Behind the Badge Foundation.  He is a driving force behind the care of law enforcement families suffering from a line of duty death or on the job trauma.

Nick and his wife, Jill, live in the Seattle area. They have two daughters.

Bob Ratliffe is Senior Vice President and Principal of Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel, an investment advising firm in downtown Seattle. His responsibilities include portfolio management, marketing, and client relations. He is also a member of the firm’s Executive Management and Investment Committees. 

Mr. Ratliffe joined Kennedy after spending seven years as a principal at Eagle River Investments, a private equity firm formed by Craig McCaw. Mr. Ratliffe participated in the management of Eagle River and its portfolio companies, where he was called upon to provide full-time leadership to the investment companies in varying capacities. In addition to telecommunications and venture capital investments, Mr. Ratliffe was responsible for the purchase and disposition of numerous real estate assets for Eagle River. Prior to joining Eagle River, Mr. Ratliffe spent 10 years with McCaw Cellular in several senior management roles. Previously he served as Vice President and Senior Investment Banking Officer at Bank of America, where he was involved in merger and acquisition consulting.

Mr. Ratliffe began his career after graduating from the University of Washington in 1982 by founding a real estate investment banking firm. He holds a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM), the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and serves on the Editorial Board of the Institutional Real Estate letter.  Mr. Ratliffe is a founder, board member and has served as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Lumera Corporation (NASDAQ: LMRA).  He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Seattle University and Behind the Badge Foundation serving the families of fallen police officers. 

Craig W. Stewart is currently Trustee and President of the Apex Foundation.  He also serves on the boards of Shawnigan Lake School, St. Thomas School, Talaris Research Institute, and Team Read. Following military service, a stint with the U.S. Government, and Standard Oil of Ohio, he served as chief development officer at Lewis University, Loomis Chaffee School, and Lakeside School. A graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, he holds a MA in ethnic studies and an Ed.D. in educational administration.  Craig and his wife, Val, reside in Edmonds, WA and are the parents of two grown children.

Steve was elected as Sheriff by the citizens of Kitsap County in 1998.

He proudly served in the Washington State Patrol for 27 years as a trooper, detective, sergeant, and as Commander of the Olympic Peninsula.

Responsibilities included vessel and terminal security for the State Ferry System and Commander of the SWAT team high-risk warrant squad and hostage negotiations team. A recipient of community and professional awards including nominee for the Governor’s Award of Professional Excellence, Citizen of the Year, earned a bachelor’s degree in Law and Justice and graduate course work while attending the Southern Police Institute. He is very proud of his family. Judi is a registered nurse in ICU at Harrison Hospital. Sean graduated from Seattle University Law School and is employed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Tamara attends the Northwest College Nursing Program. Andrew graduated from Olympic College and is attending the University of Washington/Tacoma.

The Office of Sheriff is one of the oldest elected positions and was formally established by the Washington State Constitution. The Sheriff is the “Chief Executive Officer” of the County and is charged with keeping the peace; all law enforcement functions, executes the orders of the court, serves warrants, maintains the jail and coordinates search and rescue services.

Steve served nine years as a Director for the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation and currently serves on the Board of Behind the Badge Foundation.  The ability to assist survivors upon a line of duty death is vital. Steve challenges all members of the law enforcement family to become involved, as it affects us all.

Jeffrey Chen is Chief of Medina Police Department and has been with Medina since June 2001. Previous to Medina, Jeff served with the Seattle Police Department for 13-years, working patrol, training and investigations. Jeff conducted management and accreditation audits for the Washington State Association of Sheriff's & Police Chiefs (WASPC) and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Jeff has a Masters of Public Administration and a B.A. in Society and Justice from the University of Washington.  Jeff is a graduate of the 2002 Northwest Law Enforcement Command College and 2005 Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy (FBI N/A) Session #223.

Jeff’s professional memberships include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). Jeff is active in community organizations and has served as President, Vice President and Board Member for the Northwest Law Enforcement Association of Asian Pacific Islanders (NWLEAAP). Jeff is an Accreditation Committee board member for the Washington State Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC).  He served as a member of the Board of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation for two years.

Jeff resides in Seattle with his wife and four children.

Bill brings a unique blend of media, government relations and community involvement experience to Behind the Badge Foundation.

Currently the director of Government Relations at Pyramid Communications in Seattle, Bill has a long history involvement in “good causes” in his community.  He is President of the board of the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center and chairs the communications committee of the board of Seattle City Club.

Prior to going to Pyramid, Bill served as state director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), spent six years as a media and congressional relations specialist at the Northwest office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and four years as Washington Public Affairs Director at the Northwest Power Planning Council. He was also communications director for former U.S. Rep. Jolene Unsoeld (D-WA) in Washington, D.C., and is a veteran of a number of successful campaigns, including two presidential campaigns.

Private practice of law with Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S. in Wenatchee, Washington

University of Washington, B.A., 1962
University of Texas, LL.B., 1965

Member – Washington, Texas & American Bar Associations
President – Chelan-Douglas County Bar Association (1976)
Former Member – International Association of Defense Counsel
Fellow – American College of Trial Lawyers
Fellow – American Bar Foundation
Member – University of Washington Tyee Board of Advisors
Former Trustee – University of Washington Alumni Association
Former Director – Commerce Bank, Seattle

Frank Kampsen is the Founding President of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, serving from 1996 until 2007.  The Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia is a dream realized because of the efforts of many, but especially to Frank’s perseverance and tenacity.  His leadership over ten years of fundraising culminated in the Memorial’s dedication on May 1, 2006.

Frank is a 30 year veteran of the Seattle Police Department, retiring as a detective sergeant.  During his tenure, he served on the SPD Honor Guard with 10 years as its commander.  Frank’s dedication to his fallen comrades and to his understanding of the importance of helping the surviving families is exemplified by his attending over 50 line of duty memorial ceremonies.

Frank has been married for over 44 years to his wife Carol.  They raised three children and enjoy spending time with family and their grandchildren.  Frank has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Puget Sound in Public Administration and continues to be active in security consulting.  Frank is a combat veteran of Vietnam (1965-66), proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps.  Semper Fidelis.

Tom Pillow is the current President of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association. He was born in Moses Lake, Washington in 1957. Tom graduated from Chelan High School.  He went to Yakima Valley College for two years and Eastern Washington University for one year.

In 1978, Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, spending six years on active duty. He left the Marines in 1984.  For 20 years Tom has protected the streets of Washington as a trooper with the Washington State Patrol.  Tom served more than 17 of these years as a motor officer. He volunteered two years as a Director with the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation.

Tom makes it a priority to attend every line of duty death memorial ceremony of a police officer in Washington. His volunteer work exemplifies the need to honor those who give their lives serving the citizens of Washington and ensuring surviving family members that they are not forgotten.

Tom has been married for 27 years to his lovely wife Pamela. They have two grown sons Jasin and Shawn.

David H. Quiring served on Board of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation for many years, bringing expertise in the construction of monuments.  His technical knowledge of the materials needed and how they relate to construction issues was invaluable to the construction process of the State Law Enforcement Memorial.

David was born in Seattle, Washington. He is married to Linda and together they have four children and two grandchildren. He enjoys boating, fishing, and riding his Harley. He began full time with Quiring Monuments, Inc. in 1964 and assumed the office of president after the passing of his father, David H. Quiring, Sr. in 1969.

He served as president of the Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association from 1969 to 1973, president of the Allied Memorial Council of Washington from 1972 to 1973, Vice President of the Monument Builders of North America from 1982 to 1986 and President of the American Institute of Commemorative Art from 1987 through 1988.

David was presented with the Meritorious Service Award by the Pacific Northwest Monument Builders Association in 1986 and was honored by the Washington Cemetery and Funeral Association as Person of the Year in 1991. He has also received the AICA Medallion and the Outstanding Merit Award from the American Institute of Commemorative Art.
He was part of the first group to earn the designation of Certified Memorialist from the Monument Builders of North America in 1985 and was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Commemorative Art in 1992. He is one of only two memorialists to hold both degrees.

David is a board member of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association, Co-Chair of the 2000 ICFA Fall Management Conference, president of the Aurora Avenue Merchants Association, a past president of the North Seattle Police Precinct Advisory Council and a board member of the Association of Washington Business.

“To commit time, energy and finances to the families of those who have served the people of our State and have given their lives doing so is an honor and a privilege.”

Randy brings his love for golf and gift for fundraising to benefit law enforcement families suffering from death or trauma in the line of duty.  Randy was awarded the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation (WSLEMF) 2006 Community Spirit Award for his continued generosity and support. He is a major donor of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association “Jim Saunders Golf Tournament” and the Washington State Firefighters Association annual golf tournament.  Randy served as a member of the board of directors of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation for two years.

Randy was born and raised in Seattle, Washington.  He has three beautiful daughters, two grandsons and a granddaughter. Randy hails from a golfing family and started playing golf at the age of four. His career in golf began in the early 1970’s in San Diego, California, eventually becoming a head PGA Club professional at two country clubs in northern San Diego County. Randy left the golf business in 1977 to start a career in sales, which took him to Flagstaff, Arizona.  Randy travelled the Southwest for five years, eventually returning to Seattle in early 1983. He spent several years in business brokerage before returning to the golf business in 1994. Randy is currently Chief Operating Officer for Puetz Golf Superstores based in Seattle.

Vicky M. Stormo retired after 29 years of law enforcement service. She served as the Chief of Police at the University of Washington in Seattle, a fully accredited law enforcement agency. The fifty five commissioned officers of the University of Washington Police Department oversaw 680 acres with a service population of 67,000 people. The University of Washington police were faced with many challenges including activism in the Northwest that has led to the WTO riots and arson of the Urban Horticulture Center, dignitary protection, managing football games with 74,000 screaming Husky fans, a top ten Medical Center and Health Sciences department, and a major research institution.

Chief Stormo served as the Chief at the University of Washington from 1999 to 2008. She retired from the Albuquerque Police Department at the rank of lieutenant to take the chief's job in Seattle. While in Albuquerque, she worked in many facets of the department, including patrol, detectives, civil litigation, operations review, watch commander, communications center commander, and recruiting and selection. She was credited with increasing the number of women applicants from 8% to 25% while serving as the Recruitment and Selection commander and has spoken nationally about the strategy used to attract women along with the Institute for Women in Trades, Technology and Sciences (IWITTS). She also increased the number of women at the UWPD to 24%, doubling the national average. In her law enforcement career, she was the Officer of the Month in her rookie year, was featured on Paul Harvey for solving a series of armed robberies utilizing computers when computer technology was new to law enforcement, and has received the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women Trailblazer award and the YWCA Woman on the Move award. She has also received the Breaking the Glass Ceiling award from the National Center for Women and Policing.

Chief Stormo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from the University of Albuquerque and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico. She was a state certified instructor in New Mexico and served as a subject matter expert for assessment centers. Chief Stormo is a past President of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.

Colleen became the Chief of Port of Seattle Police Department in August of 2007.  Her thirty year law enforcement career includes nine years as Chief of Monroe Police Department, where in 1993 she became the first female police chief in the state of Washington. She is the former chair of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and the current President of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).

Colleen trains and is considered a law enforcement expert in interpersonal violence. Her work includes representing law enforcement on several domestic violence and child abuse task forces, leading to legislative and policy changes for the State. Colleen spear-headed efforts in coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to victims and co-authored two state-wide model policies.

Working with victims of trauma is not new to Chief Wilson.  She remembers her first line of duty death in the early days of her career. The fallen officer was a resident of her own community. Notification was not what it is today nor was support to the family. “That death taught me a great deal about how important it is that we care for the families of fallen officers, not only during the days immediately following the death, but in the interminable days that follow. And remembering their sacrifice should be the task of every one of us who continues to wear the uniform.”

Colleen attended Gonzaga University, University of Southern California's Delinquency Control Institute and University of Washington's Cascade Program for Executive Excellence as well as the FBI National Academy. Her husband, Jerry, is a retired schoolteacher.  They have two grown children.

Jeffrey J. Wright is the Chairman of the Board for the Space Needle Corporation. Jeffrey is also Managing Partner of Cambria Homes, which builds and develops entry-level housing throughout the Puget Sound area.  

Jeffrey graduated from the University of Washington in 1982 with a B.S. in Architecture/ Construction.  After graduation, he worked for the Bechtel Corp on various projects, including the SDI, Walt Disney World’s MGM studio tours in Orlando, Florida, and the Department of Energy.

Jeffrey is currently the Chair of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau, a Member and Board Member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO), and a Board Member for Rainier Scholars, an academic and leadership enrichment program for students of color.

Kit serves as Executive Director of Behind the Badge Foundation.  

Prior to her current position, Kit served two years as the executive director of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial.  Before working with law enforcement, Kit supported her husband John in businesses they owned within the local Marine Industry. Her duties included business administrator, office manager, inside sales rep. and bookkeeper. She and John currently own an internet supply business.    

With the death of her brother-in-law, Steven L. Frink (WSP) Kit learned the importance of supporting families of law enforcement officers who die in the line of duty.  Kit responded to the need by attending National Police Week in Washington, DC, working with WA State COPS at a grass roots level and volunteering with the 10-99 Foundation.

Kit Ford and her husband, John, have been married over 41 years. Their son, Joe, and his wife, Tiffani, live in Waterport, NY.

Gayle Frink-Schulz became a police widow in 1993 when her husband, Trooper Steven L. Frink was killed in the line of duty. Steve was a motor officer with the Washington State Patrol.  At the time of his death, their daughter Kari was 14 years old and their son, Christian, was 3 years old.

Gayle worked through her grief by supporting families suffering the loss of their loved one to a law enforcement line of duty death and supporting the police agencies affected by the loss of one of their own.  She served at the national level as a board member of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) and trained nationally as a lead-presenter on line of duty death issues.  She served as president of WA State COPS, a board member of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial (WSLEM) and was the Executive Director of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation (WSLEMF).  She oversaw the completion of construction of the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial, which is on the Capitol campus in Olympia.

Gayle received numerous awards for her outreach to law enforcement survivors.  She received the Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Recognition Award in 2004, the prestigious Jefferson Award in 2003, the Red Cross American Hero award in 2003, the Meritorious Service Award, King County Sheriff in 2003, the Commendation Award, Clallam County Sheriff Department in 2000, and others.  

Gayle is married to Randy Schulz, a widower since 1994.  Their blended family includes Kari, Christian, and step-daughter Elizabeth.  Gayle and Randy are proud grandparents of two grandchildren.