Hollie Mathew Pihl Jr. Obituary (1928

Holger Mathew Pihl Jr. was born in Portland Sept. 23, 1928, to Holger Mathew Pihl Sr. and Lena Stevens. He was also known as "Hollie", as his sisters could not pronounce Holger. Hollie was born with one eye pupil turned in and was the subject of much teasing. As he turned from a little boy to a youth, he earned enough money to have surgery on this eye. He called his doctor and went to see him. It was too late to save the vision in that eye. But Hollie had a clear vision to see his future, and a toughness to do what it took to get it done. He graduated from James John grade school and Roosevelt High School, the University of Oregon and Northwestern Law School in Chicago. He worked for his father's trucking companies Pihl Transfer and Green Transfer Trucking for several years before opening up his own law practice in Portland. Then he moved to Washington County and with his wife, Alice, built a home on his much-loved tree farm in Manning. It was the same property his own father had purchased as an immigrant from Denmark and where Hollie, as a youth, had learned to fall and buck, and run a chainsaw with the best of them. His vision always included politics. He ran for State Representative, and lost, but learned a lot, especially how to plant a voter sign instead of a fir tree. He then ran for District Attorney of Washington County and won. He was appointed District Court Judge by Governor Tom McCall and then a Circuit Court Judge where he remained for almost 30 years. Another vision was the Banks Vernonia Linear Trail which became a reality after years of hard work. The Trail starts in Banks and runs through Pihl Road to Buxton where he built the "Whistle Stop", and on to Vernonia, where there is a trail sign that says "Hollie's Point of View"... and Hollie always had one. Hollie and Alice had a family of five. All raised on the farm and graduated from Banks High School. All of the many grandchildren had to listen to Grandpa's stories. Everyone rolled their eyes at grandpa's stories but remembered the facts and wisdom. Even the people who were on trial remembered his stories, and some told him later they tried to follow his advice. Hollie was a worker, play was not part of his vocabulary but he loved work and was happiest thinning his fir trees and building bridges to more trees. He died at home at age 90 on Pihl Road, with a clear view of his trees, his wife of 60 years and his golden retriever, Penny. Hollie was a proud man and leaves behind a proud family. He is survived by his wife, Alice; daughters, Deborah (Leon) Martin of Evans, Wash., Barbara Alley of Portland, Becky (Tom) Mehringer of Hillsboro and Kate (Dave) Orr of Philomath; as well as twin sons, Mike Pihl of Vernonia and Matt (Julie) Pihl of Banks. There are 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family will scatter his ashes among his fir trees. In lieu of flowers, any remembrances may go to L.L. Stubb Stewart State Park at 30380 N.W. Hwy 47, Buxton, OR 97109.