Umatilla County Counsel Doug Olsen retires
By Terry Murry on Thursday, August 6th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Doug Olsen was hired as Umatilla County Counsel by Dennis Doherty, Bill Hansell, and the late Emile Holman. For 27 years he has served as the county’s legal expert for a total of only nine commissioners. On Wednesday, he attended his 650th meeting of the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners.
At a recent retirement party for Olsen, Hansell said Doherty described Olsen best.
“He is a man of quiet competence,” Hansell quoted Doherty as saying.
Of the eight living commissioners who relied on Olsen’s legal acumen, six attended that gathering. Hansell said “that speaks to the respect we had for Doug.”
The county has changed greatly over the 27 years. Doug Olsen has not.
“He was always prepared and he remained in the background,” Hansell said.
George Murdock said he was lucky during his terms as commissioner.
“Doug was county counsel when I arrived and he was still county counsel when I left,” he said. I wouldn’t have wanted to be a commissioner without Doug as county counsel. I never thought twice about not taking his advice on any matter. He was smart and knew the law, but his hallmark was his ethics and integrity. He also had a better sense of humor than most people realized.”
Cindy Timmons is the newest commissioner and she will miss him.
“What an honor it has been to work with Doug Olsen for the last four years,” she said. “Doug provided guidance leaning on years of experience and knowledge. He will be greatly missed, but he leaves behind a legacy of articulate authority that will be fondly remembered.”
When Commissioner John Shafer learned Olsen was retiring, he jokingly considered chaining him to his desk. Now that the time has come, he described his feelings.
“When my kids were little, they watched a TV show where, if they didn’t know something, the character would look it up in The Great Book of Everything,” he said. “That is Doug Olsen. He is my Great Book of Everything – the book or legal counsel you never want to be without. He will be greatly missed.”
Photo of Doug Olsen via Umatilla County at his final Board of Commissioners meeting
