Judge Douglas R. Spencer

1923 - 2013

Third-generation Eugenean Douglas R. Spencer died at his home on August 1, 2013 surrounded by his children and grandchildren. A retired Lane County Circuit Judge, he was the son of attorney and U of O Registrar and law professor, Carlton E. Spencer and Pauline Wheeler Spencer, and a grandson of Ernest R. Spencer, who served as Lane County Commissioner in the 1920s. Doug attended Eugene Public Schools, graduating from University High School in 1941.

Doug entered Harvard College in the class of 1945. Pearl Harbor was attacked in December of his first semester. He entered midshipman's school and then served in the Navy in the Amphibious Forces, 1943-1946 as a Lieutenant (jg.). He was authorized to wear the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with one star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star, and Navy Combat Ribbon.

Following the war he completed his undergraduate degree, earning the A.B. degree with honors, and the J.D. degree from Harvard Law School, in 1949. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1949.

Doug married Amy Louise Ware of Eugene in 1950, who died in Eugene ten years ago. Doug and Amy had three children, all born in Eugene: Susan Bettis of West Melbourne, Florida; David D. Spencer, of Snohomish, Washington; and Helen Spencer-Snyder, of Montclair, New Jersey. All children survive him, as do their spouses, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Doug's first job as a lawyer was as an Assistant District Attorney in Lane County. He worked as a research attorney for the League of Oregon Cities, and taught at the University of Oregon as an Adjunct Professor. In 1953 joined the Eugene law firm of Bailey and Hoffman, later Bailey, Hoffman, Spencer and Morris. He remained in the general practice of Law with those partners until 1967.

During his law practice, he and Amy Lou took an active interest in the affairs of the Republican Party in Oregon. He spent a year as Young Republican National Committeeman for Oregon, and a year as Chairman of the Young Republican Federation of Oregon. During the 1950's, he also served as a member, and later as chairman, of the Lane County Housing Authority.

He was Lane County Chairman for Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall, in their respective campaigns for Governor, and served as Vice Chairman of the Lane County Republican Central Committee.

In 1960 he ran for Circuit Judge in Lane County and lost to Ed Leavy, who is now a senior judge on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. (He and Judge Leavy had a life-long friendship.) The opportunity to serve as a judge came again in 1967 when Governor Tom McCall appointed Doug to a position on the Lane County Circuit where he was honored to serve as a judge for 24 years, retiring to Senior Judge status in 1989.

He was one of the early joggers, when that sport was brought here from Australia, and also enjoyed travel with Amy, alpine skiing, and sailing on Woahink Lake. Always an avid reader and student, he loved history (especially the U.S. Civil War) and genealogical research.

A memorial service for Judge Spencer will be held in Eugene at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, at
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1300 Pearl Street. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to St. Mary's or to the Amy Lou Ware Spencer Scholarship at the University of Oregon College of Education (contact Kelly Menachemson, 541.852.2247).