Gene Derfler
Gene Derfler | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 31st district | |
| In office 1988–1994 | |
| Member of the Oregon Senate from the 16th district | |
| In office 1994–2002 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1924 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | March 16, 2026 (aged 101) Salem, Oregon, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Thelma |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Western Washington University Pensacola Naval Aviator School |
| Profession | Broker |
| Military service | |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Conflict | |
Eugene Leo Derfler (May 24, 1924 – March 16, 2026) was an American politician who was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives and Oregon State Senate.[1][2] He was the last Republican to serve as Senate President.
Early life
Derfler was born on May 24, 1924, in Portland, Oregon.[3][4] He was a graduate from Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) and the Pensacola Naval Aviator School. During World War II, Derfler flew PBY Catalina Bombers over the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to search for German Submarines in the Battle of the Atlantic, serving as a Lieutenant in the navy from 1943 to 1946.[5] After the war he moved to West Salem where he operated NICO Furniture, before getting into politics to reform the workers compensation system.[3]
Political career
In 1988, Derfler ran for the Oregon House of Representatives, winning the November election as a Republican for District 31 in Salem.[3] After re-election to the seat in 1990 and 1992, he moved to the Oregon Senate after winning election in 1994, where he remained until 2001.[3] Derfler represented District 16 in the Senate.[4] He was a real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Mountain West Real Estate.[4] While in the Senate he served two sessions as the majority leader for the Republican Party, and during his last session in the Senate in 2001 he was the Senate President, the last Republican to hold that position.[3]
Personal life and death
Derfler married Thelma Marie Derfler around 1945; they had three children together.[6] He was honored as a guest in the Oregon Senate in February 2024, at age 99.[7] He turned 100 on May 24, 2024,[8] and died on March 16, 2026, aged 101, at a retirement home in Salem.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Alphabetical List of Oregon's representatives" (PDF). state.or.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
- ^ The Oregon Blue Book. 1991. ISBN 9780924540110.
- ^ a b c d e Alexander, Rachel (March 17, 2026). "Former Oregon Senate President Gene Derfler dies at 101: He 'left Oregon better than he found it'". Salem Reporter. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ a b c "The Voter's Self Defense System".
- ^ Lynn, Capi. "Gene Derfler, WWII veteran and Oregon leader, dies at 101". Statesman Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- ^ "Thelma Marie Derfler Obituary - The Statesman Journal". statesmanjournal.com. May 5, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ^ "Oregon Legislature gets to work on homelessness, addiction and other issues". Oregon Capital Chronicle. February 5, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ McDonald, Abbey (June 4, 2024). "At Salem's first Elderfest, Gene Derfler shares life lessons after 100th birthday". Salem Reporter. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Former Oregon Senate President Gene Derfler dies at 101". KPTV. March 16, 2026. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ^ Alexander, Rachel (March 16, 2026). "Gene Derfler, 'generational leader' in Oregon Legislature, dies at 101". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2026.