Tillamook stalwart Henson passes

Longtime Tillamook booster Doug Henson passed away on April 28, 2024, at the age of 75, succumbing to a prolonged illness.

Henson served for more than 20 years on the Tillamook City Council and supported a laundry list of efforts to make Tillamook a better place for children, veterans and every citizen throughout his adult life.

Born in Salem, Henson spent most of his life in Tillamook County. After graduating from Neah-Kah-Nie High School in 1966, Henson served in the army during the Vietnam Conflict, receiving a purple heart, bronze star and air medal, before returning to Tillamook.

Henson worked for many years at the Tillamook YMCA and ran his own business, but he will undoubtedly be best remembered for his volunteer contributions to the city he called home.

In addition to his service on the council, Henson was a founding member of both the Tillamook Revitalization Association and Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency and was involved in initiatives as varied as bringing the city a dog park and starting the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Veterans always remained close to Henson’s heart and in addition to supporting bonds to bolster services for them in the county, he raised more than $200,000 in 2023 for the construction of a Veterans’ Memorial, which broke ground last fall in downtown Tillamook.

Henson had withdrawn from public life in recent months as he fought an advancing case of Parkinson’s Disease, caused by exposure to agent orange while he served in the army. This led the Tillamook City Council to appoint Sylvia Schriber to fill Henson’s seat on a temporary basis in February.

A more in-depth story on Henson’s life and contributions to the community will be included in a future edition.