Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 3. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 396. JOHN A. LAING John A. Laing, vice president and general counsel for the Portland Gas & Coke Company, has not only rendered an important service to the corporations with which he is identified, but has also shown an effective interest in local civic affairs, his individual efforts contributing to the welfare of the community. Mr. Laing was born in Albany, New York, on the 14th of November, 1883, and is a son of John Collier and E. (Cochran) Laing, both of whom still reside in Albany. After completing his attendance at the public schools, Mr. Laing pursued his classical course in Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1905, and then entered the law school of Columbia University, from which he was graduated in 1908. He was engaged in the practice of his profession in New York for two years, associated with the firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, which was general counsel for the interests which Mr. Laing is now representing. In December, 1910, he came, to Portland as general attorney for Portland Gas & Coke Company and Pacific Power & Light Company, which relation he still sustains, and in addition to which he was made vice-president in 1917. He is an officer and director of the Henry Weinhard Company, and of the various companies affiliated with Portland Gas & Coke Company, Portland Power & Light Company and Northwestern Electric Company. On June 1, 1910, Mr. Laing was united in marriage to Miss Ruth E. Fuller, of Albany, New York, and they are the parents of two children, Helen Fuller, born July 10, 1911, and John C., born September 4, 1915, and also have an adopted son, James F., born April 16, 1910. Mr. Laing is a member of the Arlington Club, the Multnomah Club, of which he was president for two years, the Multnomah Golf Club, the University Club, the Civic Club and the Press Club, and maintains professional affiliation with the Multnomah County Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a member of the city planning commission and took the leading part in securing the erection of the city stadium. He is a regent of Reed College, of the Riverdale school and of the Portland Symphony Orchestra Society. Submitted to the OR. Bios Project in September 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. The submitter has no further information on the individual featured in the biography.