Sky Chappell
Jared Glenn David Cornell, a Sweet Home businessman who excelled in athletics and served his community, will be remembered this week as friends and family say goodbye.
Cornell, 45, was born in 1977 and raised in The Dalles, but spent the last part of his life raising his family in Lebanon. He left behind his parents, David and Nonalee Cornell, his wife Adria Cornell, and daughters Reghan, Teagen and Taryn.
“He was generous with both time and money,” Nonalee Cornell said. “He cared about people as well as his community and family. He helped people achieve their goals and dreams. I used to call him ‘Big Guy 75’ because that was his number in college. He was very quiet, but still made people laugh. He was a great uncle, a great son, and an even better father.”
According to the Oregon State University’s website, in high school, Cornell excelled in athletics.
“Jared won the state 3A wrestling heavyweight championship his senior year with a perfect 31-0 record, including pins within five and eight seconds.”
Along with wrestling, Cornell played in both the offensive and defensive lines for The Dalles High School. He was a first team All American in track his senior year and a three time state champ in shot put.
Cornell was inducted into The Riverhawk Hall of Fame in 2019.
The OSU website also stated, “Jared played in the offensive and defensive lines for The Dalles High School. He visited Washington, Oregon and Washington State and turned down the Huskies for OSU. [He] was also offered a track scholarship by UCLA but opted to play football at Oregon State.”
Cornell said in a statement to OSU, “I liked the coaches and the enthusiasm and the atmosphere at OSU.”
After graduating high school in 1995, “Jared spent the 1996 season as a redshirt offensive lineman and performed on the scout team the entire season. Unfortunately, in a spring game of his junior year, Jared tore an ACL in his right knee. This voided his ability to play in the first six games of the season his senior year. Before the injury, Jared was OSU’s No. 1 left guard.”
But this didn’t stop him.
As specified by the OSU website, “Jared reported for spring drills in excellent physical condition and ready to battle for a starting spot. He was listed as the No. 2 left guard at the start of spring drills.”
Following playing in college, Cornell graduated with a masters of arts and teaching.
Cornell’s “LinkedIn” account states, “My career objective is to provide leadership guidance and value to an organization that is focused on community and business development. My passion is building and maintaining positive relationships while providing guidance and collaboration within the communities I serve. I thrive on positive energy, great ideas and developing strong interpersonal relationships.”
Cornell spent time as the director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis from October 2005 to October 2007, and as interim executive director for the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam from October 2007 to March 2012.
As explained by a BrokerCheck Report released by FINRA, Cornell worked as vice president for the Rick Franklin Corporation from January 2012 to June 2015, and an Edward Jones financial advisor from June of 2015 until he passed.
Stated in an article from The New Era in March 22, 2016, discussing his past regarding his election for the Sweet Home Economic Development Group, “Over the past 10 years, Cornell has worked with the communities of Sweet Home and Lebanon in economic development and community programs. He also has served on the Oregon State University Alumni Board and the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors. He currently is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Sweet Home.”
“Wonderful mentor, deeply cares about the community, and builds strong relationships with everyone around him,” Wendy Melcher said in a statement regarding Cornell’s time involved with the board for the Boys and Girls Club and Oregon Jamboree.
“Jared had a huge impact in both the Sweet Home and Lebanon communities as well as within our firm. He will be greatly missed and always cherished. Jared’s spirit will live on with many forever and we are grateful for that. We will give our best to honor Jared and his family moving forward.” Doug Phillips shared.
“I am really proud of what Jared has accomplished in his life, but like all of these people have said, I am proud of what he has taken away from being involved with sports from his time in The Dalles, and how he has applied that to being the type of man, husband and father that he’s become,” his father Dave Cornell said. “He is just a great individual and I am proud of him.”
Jared Cornell passed away Nov. 16, 2023.
A celebration of life is to be held Dec. 16 at Reser Stadium, Club House, 660 SW 26th St. Corvallis.