John Whittemore started umpiring for the SBUA in 1995. John excelled and quickly advanced in our ranks, reaching the pinnacle assignment: working the plate in the 2004, 3A State Championship game. John continued to umpire until the end of 2006, where he was hired to be the commissioner, starting in the spring of 2007. John held that role for fifteen years. During that time, John has helped develop and groom officials to become not just the best umpire, but the best person they could be. Because of this, John has personally had the opportunity to select 22 different state championship officials in his tenure as commissioner. But his contributions hardly stop there. He has been a friend, counsellor, cook, negotiator, evaluator, and quality control expert, and doing all this while being an outstanding husband to his wife, and father to his three children.

John has set the bar high in the SBUA both on and off the field, and enjoys a stellar reputation for leading one of the best high school umpire associations in the state of Oregon.