Gene Derfler
American politician (1924–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Gene Leo 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 |
| Profession | Broker |
| Military service | |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Conflict | Battle of the Atlantic |
Early years
Derfler was born in Portland, Oregon, on May 24, 1924.[3][4] He was an alumnus of 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, he 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]
Later life and death
Derfler was honored as a guest in the Oregon Senate in February 2024, at the age of 99.[6] Derfler turned 100 on May 24, 2024,[7] and died at a retirement home in Salem, Oregon, on March 16, 2026, at the age of 101.[8][9]
