Doug Still
Posted on July 5, 2007 by oregoncub
Tags, History of CUB and General CUB News
Today, we here at CUB wish to express our tremendous respect for Doug Still, a CUB Board member and long-time energy policy activist, until shortly before his death July 1st at the age of 83.
Doug sent us, along with several dozen other friends and allies, a letter in early June. In it, he described the downturn in multiple health conditions which he had experienced. Doug spoke about his expectation that his life would end soon, providing a chance to say goodbye.
The letter was not unhappy, however, ending with the request that friends and family “dance on my grave” and expressing gratitude: “My life has been a joy to me. I am so appreciative of the marvelous opportunities available and generously given me.” Doug spoke of being blessed with a family whom he loved very much (he is survived by his sons Dean and Gregory and a daughter, Eleanor). Of special interest, perhaps, to CUB members was the final sentence of his farewell letter, in which Doug expressed “my future hope is in the people taking charge and turning this nation around…”
Doug served on the CUB board for 7 years, and on the Executive Board of the NW Energy Coalition for well over 10 years. In addition, he served in elected roles with the South Lane Mental Health Board, the Assembly of the Blue Mountain School, and with his church. He was a strong advocate for public power, helping to found and serving as an elected board member of Emerald PUD, which now serves thousands of Oregonians with low-cost, conservation-minded publicly-owned power. He also was active in the founding of the Oregon Solar Energy Association, now called Solar Oregon.
He earned a divinity degree from Union Seminary and utilized it to pursue multiple areas of social justice, keeping his faith in both humanity and divinity strong up to the very end. Living a full life, Doug created his own opportunities to contribute during decades of profound social and political change; among many other actions, he worked in community organizing with Saul Alinsky and Cesar Chavez and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On June 13th, we spoke with Doug by phone from his Cottage Grove home where he spent his final weeks, receiving a steady stream of visitors and phone calls. His voice at first was weak but gradually strengthened and was still recognizably full of the spirit and intellect that we knew as Doug Still. He expressed happiness in the work he had done with CUB, and admiration for the teamwork of the group that exists within the organization. He said at one point that he had great faith that people could do anything, people could work miracles, as long as they worked together.
After speaking with Doug, we reminisced about the strength of character which allowed Doug to work effectively for so many years in the sometimes frustrating arena of energy policy, and never speak ill of anyone. Those of us on the phone with Doug that day came away with a stronger-than-ever respect for his life. And as a final gift, we also came away with a greater appreciation for our own opportunity to work for sustainable and affordable energy policy as a part of CUB.
Stan Padilla, descendant of a Yaqui tribal family, said this about the role and value of elders: “Within Native American culture, the elder has been recognized, respected and revered as the living embodiment of knowledge, skill and wisdom.” (Lilipoh, Issue 47, vol. 12). Doug Still was our elder here at CUB, both by virtue of his years and his unique character. We celebrate his life, and feel the loss of his wisdom very keenly.
Thank you, Doug, and God speed.
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
03/10/17 | 0 Comments | Doug Still