Hooley, Darlene

Darlene Olson Hooley was born in Williston, North Dakota on April 4, 1939. At the age of eight her parents moved to Salem, Oregon. In 1961 she graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. In addition to pursuing post-graduate work at Oregon State and Portland State Universities, Hooley taught physical education, music and reading in several Portland-area high schools from 1961 to 1970. In 1965 she married John Hooley and they raised two children, Chad and Erin, before divorcing in 1995.

In the early 1970’s Hooley’s son was injured in a playground accident in West Linn, Oregon. The city’s lack of response to playground safety issues motivated Hooley to enter politics and in1976 she became the first woman member of the West Linn city council. In 1980 she entered the Oregon State House of Representatives where she served until 1987. During her time in the state legislature she focused on bills dealing with public kindergartens, equity pay and reform of the state’s welfare system.

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