Tom Huggins, founder and general manager of Eola Hills, graduated from Oregon State's College of Business in 1972 and wife Debra, a former OSU cheerleader earned a degree in home economics in 1973.  Winemaker Steve Anderson graduated in 1993 from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Vineyard Manager Jim Huggins graduated from OSU in 1975.

Tom started the winery with four of his Oregon State fraternity brothers, and since then, four more have bought stock in the company. Eola Hills has worked with Oregon State on numerous occasions, including collaborating with faculty on how to polish the company’s wine making process to working on ways to bring its product to the Oregon State community.  Eola Hills hosts trips to all OSU away football games and many of the baseball games.