Hollie Pihl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Holger "Hollie" Pihl
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|---|---|
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| Circuit Court Judge | |
| Nominated by | Tom McCall |
| District Court Judge for Washington County | |
| Nominated by | John Kitzhaber |
| Senior Judge for the State of Oregon | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Holger Mathew Pihl
September 23, 1928 Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Died | October 3, 2018 (aged 90) Manning, Oregon, United States |
| Spouse |
Alice Pihl
(m. 1958) |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | University of Oregon (B.S.) Northwestern Law School (LLB) |
Holger Mathew Pihl, Jr. (September 23, 1928 – October 3, 2018) was an important judge in Washington County, Oregon. He served as a Circuit Court Judge until 1995. After that, he became a Senior Judge until he retired in 2005. A Circuit Court Judge handles serious cases in a specific area. A Senior Judge is a retired judge who can still help out with cases when needed. Governor Tom McCall of Oregon first appointed him to the court in 1976.
Pihl was born in Portland, Oregon. He studied at the University of Oregon and then earned his law degree from Northwestern Law School in Chicago. After starting his own law business in 1955, he discovered a passion for public service. This passion guided his career choices.
In 1959, Pihl ran for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. He ran as a Republican but lost. The person who won, Vic Atiyeh, later became the Governor of Oregon. In 1960, Pihl ran for District Attorney of Washington County and won. A District Attorney is the chief prosecutor for a local government area. He held this job until Governor Tom McCall appointed him as a District Court Judge in 1968. Later, in 1979, he became a Circuit Court Judge. Pihl worked as a Circuit Court Judge until 1995. Then, he chose to become a Senior Judge until he retired in 2005.
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Early Life and Education
Hollie Pihl was born on September 23, 1928, in Portland, Oregon. He was one of six children in his family. His father, Holger Mathew Pihl, Sr., was from Copenhagen, Denmark. He came to the United States through Ellis Island in New York City in 1906. Matt Pihl joined his brothers in Oregon and found work caring for dairy cows.
Matt Pihl later bought land on Green Mountain, near Manning, Oregon. Over time, he owned almost 1,000 acres of forestland. The Pihl family lived in St. Johns, Oregon, and used the Manning land for logging. Logging means cutting down trees for wood. They also had a small saw mill. Young Hollie learned how to cut down trees and use a chainsaw. When Hollie was born, his family also owned two trucking companies in Portland. Hollie worked for these companies for many years. He thought he would become a truck driver.
Hollie Pihl was born with one eye that turned inward. Other kids sometimes teased him about it at James John Grade School and Roosevelt High School. While at Roosevelt High School, he saved enough money for eye surgery. But when he saw the doctor, it was too late to save the vision in that eye.
In 1946, Hollie Pihl didn't have much money for college. So, he joined the United States Army during the Korean War. He used the G.I. Bill to help pay for his education later. To pass the Army's medical exam, he said he had perfect vision. He practiced shooting extra hours to be very good. He served in the Army until 1948. After his service, he decided to attend the University of Oregon.
Pihl started at the University of Oregon in 1948 when he was 20. He graduated four years later, in 1952. To pay for his studies, he worked for his father's trucking companies during the summers. After college, Pihl went to Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. He earned his law degree in 1955. Then, he passed the Oregon Bar exam and started his law career in Portland, Oregon. Soon, Pihl became interested in working for the government instead of a private company.
Legal Career and Public Service
Hollie Pihl began his legal career in 1955. He practiced law with his partner, Donald A. Buss. He later left their firm to run for public office.
In 1962, Pihl ran for the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican. He lost in the primary election to Vic Atiyeh. Vic Atiyeh later became the 32nd Governor of Oregon.
After this, Pihl ran for District Attorney in Washington County in 1964. He won this election. He stayed in this role until Governor Tom McCall appointed him as a District Court Judge in 1967. In 1969, he became a Circuit Court Judge. He served full-time in this position until he was named a Senior Judge by the Supreme Court. This meant he could be called upon to help with cases even after retiring. He continued as a Senior Judge until his full retirement in 2005.
Important Cases
As a judge, Hollie Pihl made decisions in many important cases. One notable ruling was in 1993. This ruling allowed the TriMet railway to build a line under two cemeteries. This project connected Washington County to Portland. It was a big project, costing $558 million. Judge Pihl decided against the complaints from cemetery owners and families. They worried that the train noise would disturb the graves. He ruled that the railway could proceed.
Personal Life
In 1958, Pihl married Alice Morrow, who was a nurse. They met on a blind date in Portland, Oregon. In 1962, the Pihls moved to his family's tree farm in Manning, Oregon. They raised five children there, and all of them attended Banks High School.
Boy Scouts of America
Pihl was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America for many years. In the 1980s, he served as a Vice President for the Columbia Pacific Council. This council covers most of the Portland area. He also helped name the new Tuality District. In 1991, Pihl received the Silver Beaver Award. This award recognizes exceptional leadership and service to the Boy Scouts of America. His daughter, Becky, also became involved in Scouting. She is a Deputy District Attorney in Washington County. Her son, Jacob, earned his Eagle Award in 2009. In 2017, Becky became the second person in her family to earn the Silver Beaver Award.
