Forgette Appointed to WSU Board of Regents

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Francois (Fran) Forgette of Kennewick has been appointed to the Washington State University Board of Regents by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. His term is effective immediately and ends Sept. 30, 2007.

Forgette [For-jet] replaces Steven R. Hill of Tacoma, who was appointed by Gregoire in April as the administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority.

Forgette is a partner with the Tri-Cities law firm of Rettig Osborne Forgette LLP, which he joined in 1977 after graduating from Gonzaga Law School. He is chairman of the board of the Tri-City Industrial Development Council (TRIDEC). He is a past president of several organizations and boards, including the Tri-Cities Cancer Center, Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council and Catholic Family and Child Services.

As chairman of TRIDEC, Forgette has been actively involved in discussions and planning about higher education’s role in the region.

“The Tri-Cities has been looking hard at the future of higher education in this area. It is an issue that has really caught the interest of the community here,” Forgette said.

He said developing and expanding the educational role of WSU Tri-Cities and building closer ties with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories will be vital for regional economic development.

While Forgette has been at the center of discussions of higher education issues in the Tri-Cities, he said he is also looking forward to learning more about WSU programs in Pullman and statewide.

Forgette will be the first WSU regent from the Tri-Cities since William R. Wiley of Richland served on the board from 1989-1994.