The Rogue Community College Foundation has selected Grants Pass businessman and community leader Steve Roe as its 2025 Citizen of the Year, honoring decades of service, philanthropy, and hands-on engagement with causes that directly impact the lives of Southern Oregonians.
Roe, the general manager of Roe Motors, has long been recognized in Grants Pass for his leadership in both business and civic life. Now, the RCC Foundation is acknowledging his far-reaching commitment to the college’s mission of transforming lives through education. The award highlights not only Roe’s professional success, but also the countless hours he has dedicated to volunteerism, mentoring, and programs that strengthen the wider community.
A resident of Grants Pass for many years, Roe has taken a deeply personal approach to service. Among his contributions are poverty simulation workshops he has conducted for RCC students, faculty, and staff, designed to shed light on the realities faced by those living on the margins. These exercises, which place participants in scenarios where they must navigate daily life under economic strain, are meant to foster understanding and compassion while equipping future leaders with perspective on systemic barriers.
Roe has also found a unique way to bring comfort to students during some of their most stressful days. Each finals week, he can be found on RCC’s Redwood Campus with his trained therapy dog, Hope, greeting students and offering encouragement. The visits have become a welcome tradition for many, blending his advocacy for mental health with a tangible act of care.
His work in mental health extends well beyond the campus. Roe is an active advocate in the “Tomorrow Needs You” program, which promotes awareness and education around mental health challenges and suicide prevention. His leadership has made him a visible champion for reducing stigma and creating space for open conversations about these critical issues.
Community boards across Southern Oregon have also benefited from Roe’s steady presence and thoughtful leadership. He has served with Asante Health System, Rogue Gateway Rotary, Friends of Southern Oregon Hospice, Four Way Community Foundation, Mercy Flights, and the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce. Each of these roles reflects a different facet of his broader mission: supporting health, education, and community resilience.
Together with his wife Kristi, a first-grade teacher at Allen Dale Elementary, Roe has also ensured that his impact will last for generations. The couple established The Roe Family Endowed Scholarship Fund with the RCC Foundation, providing financial support for students who might otherwise struggle to pursue higher education.
RCC President Randy Weber praised Roe’s leadership, describing him as a figure who “truly represents the heart of our community.” Weber emphasized that Roe’s combination of generosity, advocacy, and vision has touched countless lives throughout the Rogue Valley.
Roe’s own academic background underscores his long commitment to learning and growth. He holds a degree in automotive marketing and accounting from Northwood University and a master’s degree in management from Southern Oregon University. At home in Grants Pass, he and Kristi share their lives not only with students and neighbors, but also with their two therapy dogs, Hope and Finn, who often accompany them in their outreach work.
For the RCC Foundation, the Citizen of the Year award is a way to honor individuals who embody the values of service and connection. In recognizing Roe, the foundation is highlighting a man whose work has consistently blurred the line between personal commitment and community impact. His story reflects the power of local leadership, proving that one person’s efforts can ripple outward, shaping the culture, compassion, and future of an entire region.