Lisa Fort came to Clark College in 1988 as a highly touted basketball player from R.A Long High School in Longview, Washington. Her intense work ethic, competitive nature and desire to excel quickly earned her a starting role on the Penguins basketball team. In Lisa’s first year at Clark, she helped lead the Penguins to an NWAACC Championship, where she was honored as the Tournament Most Valuable Player. Lisa also earned all-conference honors for two consecutive years, several All-tournament Team selections, and a KODAK All-American award in 1990. Lisa received her Associates in Arts and Sciences from Clark in August, 1990 and graduated with honors.
Lisa’s success at Clark allowed her to receive a full basketball scholarship to Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri. While at CMSU, Lisa also put her athleticism to use on the softball team as a walk-on athlete. In 1992, Lisa graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in psychology.
In 1994, Lisa was hired as an Oregon State Police Trooper and was stationed out of the Portland office. Less than a year after graduating from the OSP Academy, Lisa survived being shot twice by a lone gunman during a “routine” traffic stop. Lisa’s Norwegian stubbornness, will to survive, and never-give-up attitude saved her and her unarmed cadet partner’s life. Despite being injured, Lisa rendered aid to her wounded partner until help arrived. Lisa earned a Letter of Commendation from the Oregon State Police and the Medal of Honor from the Oregon Peace Officer Association.
In 2005, Lisa sought new challenges in her law enforcement career and joined the Portland Police Bureau. During her 21 years in police work, Lisa has enjoyed a variety of assignments. She served as a Fish and Wildlife Trooper, a DUII and Drug Recognition Expert, a coach for Recruit Troopers/Officers, and instructed a variety of classes. She has also served in bicycle patrol, All-Terrain-Vehicle patrol, the Mounted Patrol Unit (horses), and most recently as a member of the Neighborhood Response Team.
For 18 of her 21 years of service to the State of Oregon and the City of Portland, Lisa has been a member of the Police Honor Guard teams. Honor Guard members perform full dress ceremonies to pay tribute to fallen officers and firemen around the country. She most recently traveled to New York City to honor and pay respect to the family of Officer Rafael Ramos, one of the two NYPD officers tragically killed in the line of duty.
As for her personal life, Lisa is married to a wonderful Texan transplant, Mike, and they live on a peaceful five acre farm in northern Clark County. Lisa’s competitive nature still burns brightly and she stays active with backpacking, bicycling, fishing, skiing, snowshoeing and the occasional basketball and soccer game. Lisa is honored to have been part of the Penguin family, and has especially fond memories of being part of the 1989 NWAACC Championship basketball team. She is thankful to have been surrounded by so many great teammates who gave her the ball, caught her crazy passes, set brick wall screens, and were major contributors leading to Lisa’s success. She would also like to recognize all her coaches (Coach Trapp, Coach Jones, Randy Myers and Coach Lemiere) for their encouragement and various forms of motivation which helped her achieve success not only on the basketball court, but also in life.
………..JUST ONE MORE HILL…………….
