Preserving Our District History
Past Governors
For more than a century, volunteer leaders have guided Optimists across the Pacific Northwest. This archive honors their service and preserves the story of a district that grew across states, provinces, and territories.
1922-2026Years Documented
97Leadership Terms
3District Eras
1922District 13 was formed.
1938District 32 began a new era.
1957-58The Pacific Northwest District took shape.
1992Alaska joined the district.
2019Utah and Yukon were added.
Distinguished
Governors carrying this badge earned Distinguished status for that term.
District 13: 1922-1938
Originally Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Montana joined in 1926, followed by British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in 1931.
Founding Governors8 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1922-24 | Charles Paul | Seattle, WA |
| 1924-30 | Charles B. DeMille | Seattle, WA |
| 1930-32 | Fred Walker | Bellingham, WA |
| 1932-34 | Laurel Miller | Yakima, WA |
| 1934-35 | Kalsen C. Benning | Bellingham, WA |
| 1935-36 | Donald Samson | Yakima, WA |
| 1936-37 | J. Lail Simmons | Seattle, WA |
| 1937-38 | Ralph Stratford | Downtown Portland, OR |
District 32: 1938-1958
Manitoba was removed, and District 32 included Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
District 32 Governors20 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1938-39 | Peter S. Chalmers | Winnipeg, MB |
| 1939-40 | Clarence Hagstrom | Seattle, WA |
| 1940-41 | Wes L. McCullough | Yakima, WA |
| 1941-42 | Carl C. Donaugh | Downtown Portland, OR |
| 1942-43 | Don M. Tunstall | Yakima, WA |
| 1943-44 | Worth Caldwell Sr. | Downtown Portland, OR |
| 1944-45 | F. Stuart Foster | Yakima, WA |
| 1945-46 | Oscar Keller | Downtown Portland, OR |
| 1946-47 | F.W. Norgard | Yakima, WA |
| 1947-48 | Leo C. Lommel | Downtown Portland, OR |
| 1948-49 | Al M. McLintock | Vancouver, BC |
| 1949-50 | Louis F. Larson | Downtown Portland, OR |
| 1950-51 | Bernard G. Bell | Vancouver, WA |
| 1951-52 | C. Harry Rennie | Victoria, BC |
| 1952-53 | Ed Chauner | Bozeman, MT |
| 1953-54 | Paul Shiniger | SE Portland, OR |
| 1954-55 | Neal V. German | Calgary, AB |
| 1955-56 | Jack Stacy | NE Portland, OR |
| 1956-57 | Fred Tanner | Victoria, BC |
| 1957-58 | John W. Oakie | Edmonton, AB |
Pacific Northwest District: 1957-2026
Alberta, Montana, and Saskatchewan formed District 29. Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia remained in the Pacific Northwest District; Alaska joined in 1992, followed by Utah and Yukon in 2019.
1957-196913 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1957-58 | Emil Lachenmeier | NE Portland, OR |
| 1958-59 | Irl Clary | Lake Oswego, OR |
| 1959-60 | Howard Strait | Yakima, WA |
| 1960-61 | George Gordon | Victoria, BC |
| 1961-62 | Glen Loomis | Uptown Portland, OR |
| 1962-63 | Curt Shady | NE Portland, OR |
| 1963-64 | Max-Welton Stell | Tacoma, WA |
| 1964-65 | John Garretson | Tacoma, WA |
| 1965-66 | Ronald E. Thompson | West Tacoma, WA |
| 1966-67 | Larry Mason | Boise, ID |
| 1967-68 | C.J. (Neal) Willis | East Vancouver, BC |
| 1968-69 | John B. Dodge | West Tacoma, WA |
| 1969-70 | Don Ulfers | Tacoma, WA |
1970s10 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1970-71 | Steve J. Cottrell | Beaverton, OR |
| 1971-72 | Phil Bovee | NE Portland, OR |
| 1972-73 | Harry W. Bonney | Vancouver-North Shore, BC |
| 1973-74 | Roy Proctor | Salem, OR |
| 1974-75 | Ross R. Mathews | Hillsboro, OR |
| 1975-76 | A. Duane Seil | Gresham, OR |
| 1976-77 | Robert D. Scott | Lebanon, OR |
| 1977-78 | G.L. (Jerry) Morelock | Boise, ID |
| 1978-79 | Edward N. Clark | NE Portland, OR |
| 1979-80 | Robert J. Folsom | Spokane, WA |
1980s10 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1980-81 | Douglas Wilson | Victoria-Eve, BC |
| 1981-82 | Darrell A. Hamel | SE Portland, OR |
| 1982-83 | E. Duane Smith | Portland-Lloyd Center, OR |
| 1983-84 | Henry W. Deines | NE Portland, OR |
| 1984-85 | Thomas R. Damron | Gresham, OR |
| 1985-86 | Wayne W. Gearhard | Fort Boise, ID |
| 1986-87 | Jack K. Towns | Albany, OR |
| 1987-88 | O.E. (Jim) Tallmon | Meridian, ID |
| 1988-89 | Robert W. Estergaard | Vancouver, BC |
| 1989-90 | Wesley E. Alderson | Salem, OR |
1990s10 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 1990-91 | William A. Holstein | Meridian, ID |
| 1991-92 | John M. Hasstedt | Spokane, WA |
| 1992-93 | Rocky Jackson | Jerome, ID |
| 1993-94 | Gordon B. Stringham | Kent/Renton/Green River, WA |
| 1994-95 | Harold (Hal) Griffin | Coquitlam, BC |
| 1995-96 | Bud AuneDistinguished | Boise, ID |
| 1996-97 | Ilene Rounsefell | Gresham, OR |
| 1997-98 | David Morrison | Abbotsford, BC |
| 1998-99 | Annette Smith | Coquitlam, BC |
| 1999-00 | Jim Jensen | Gresham, OR |
2000s10 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-01 | Earl Pollock | Coquitlam, BC |
| 2001-02 | Jim Slauson | Gresham, OR |
| 2002-03 | Wayne Bohrn | Twin Falls, ID |
| 2003-04 | Ray Hilts | Albany, OR |
| 2004-05 | Lyle Miller | Roseburg, OR |
| 2005-06 | Dick Brodie | Mission, BC |
| 2006-07 | Gay Enyeart | Hillsboro, OR |
| 2007-08 | Steve Andersen | Gresham, OR |
| 2008-09 | Peter Smith | Coquitlam, BC |
| 2009-10 | Linda Vaught Disney (Jackson)Distinguished | Jerome, ID |
2010-202010 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-11 | Ed Murphy IIIDistinguished | Issaquah, WA |
| 2011-12 | Bill French | Hillsboro, OR |
| 2012-13 | Larry Blackburn | Caldwell, ID |
| 2013-14 | Fred Wallace | Gresham, OR |
| 2014-15 | Dick DisneyDistinguished | West Tacoma, WA |
| 2015-16 | Michael T Gray | Nampa, ID |
| 2016-17 | Rick Matkin | Caldwell, ID |
| 2017-18 | Bruce Gilbertson | Salem, OR |
| 2018-19 | Ben DeRemer | Gresham Scouters, OR |
| 2019-20 | Ben DeRemerDistinguished | Gresham Scouters, OR |
2020-20266 terms
| Term | Governor | Club or Community |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Edward (Eddie) Solorzano | Meridian, ID |
| 2021-22 | Victor Islas | Middleton, ID |
| 2022-23 | Andre Giacalone | Anchorage, AK |
| 2023-24 | Andre Giacalone | Anchorage, AK |
| 2024-25 | ||
| 2025-26 | Becky Holm | Roseburg, OR |