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Doug, born Wabash, Indiana September 7, 1950, graduated from Wabash College, summa cum laude, with an A.B. degree in 1972. At Wabash College he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honorary society, Eta Sigma Phi Latin honorary society, and Tau Kappa Epsilon social fraternity.



Doug graduated from Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington Indiana, cum laude, in 1975 and was admitted to the Indiana Bar, and the federal district court bars for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana in October, 1975. Doug was admitted to the State Bar of California in June, 1978.

After admission to the Indiana Bar, Doug reported for active duty with the United States Navy as a lawyer in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He completed his military legal education at the Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island in December, 1975. After a two week indoctrination program at sea aboard the USS Haleakala, AE-25, Doug reported to his permanent duty station at the Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO), San Francisco, California. He served there for three years as a prosecutor, defense lawyer and claims attorney. His command awarded him the Navy Achievement Medal for his service at the NLSO.

On his release from active duty, Doug returned to his hometown of Wabash and joined with John Johnston and Mark Guenin in the firm of Johnston, Lehman and Guenin, in the general practice of law. He remained affiliated with the United States Navy as a drilling reservist. Between 1982 and 1990, he was assigned as the reserve lawyer for the Commander-in- Chief, Atlantic (now known as the U.S. Atlantic Command) located in Norfolk, Virginia. This was followed with an assignment, in a unit of reserve lawyers for the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet in 1991 doing admiralty law in Norfolk Virginia and Washington, D.C. From 1991 to 1994, he was in a unit of reserve lawyers providing direct legal support to the Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) in Washington, D.C. While serving with the CNP, he was awarded his first Navy Commendation Medal.

In 1994 Doug was reassigned as the Commanding Officer (CO) of Naval Reserve Unit VTU Law 0902, a legal unit in Indianapolis, Indiana. The position of CO was a two year appointment. In 2000 he was appointed as CO of Naval Reserve Unit VTU Law 1315, a position he held until his retirement in July, 2002. While CO, he received his second Naval Commendation Medal for his service as course manager and lead instructor for the Navy Reserve’s Officer Leadership Course that all reserve officers were required to complete.

His last year of service with the Naval Reserve was dedicated to providing legal services to the South Bend, Evansville and Indianapolis Reserve Centers. After the events of September 11, 2001, he wrote over 300 wills and powers of attorney for reserve and active duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel anticipating deployment in support of Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts in support of the mission of the Indianapolis Reserve Center.

Even in retirement, he continues to be involved with the Navy. From 2015 to the present he has been actively involved with the christening, commissioning and post commissioning support of the two new Navy Vessels with Hoosier names sakes- the USS Indiana (SSN 789) commissioned September 2018 and USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) commissioned October 2019. During this time he served on the Board of Directors of the Commissioning committees for both vessels. He currently serves as Vice Chairman on both committees.

Initially, Doug practiced with John Johnston and in 1980, Mark C. Guenin joined to form the firm of Johnston, Lehman & Guenin. In 1980, Governor Otis R. Bowen appointed Doug to fill an unexpired term as Judge of the Wabash City Court a part-time position. Doug was then elected to that position in 1981 and, in addition to his practice with Johnston, Lehman & Guenin, served as the Judge until he moved outside the jurisdiction of the City Court in July, 1985.

In 1994, Doug was became the attorney for the Pleasant Township Trustee and the Pleasant Township Advisory Board, a position he still holds. In 1996 he was also made the attorney for the Wabash City Plan Commission and the Wabash City Board of Zoning Appeals which he held until his appointment as Wabash City Attorney on January 1, 2004. In 2003, Doug opened his own office. Located in downtown Wabash at 30 West Canal Street, Doug continues to practice providing general legal services including family law issues such as adoptions, dissolutions of marriage, custody, support and guardianships; wills, estates, and elder law; social security disability; real estate; and contracts, business formations and collections. In 2004, Doug became the Wabash City Attorney for Mayor Robert Vanlandingham, and continues to serve in that capacity, now with Mayor Scott A. Long.

Doug has served in a variety of local civic and community activities including:



• Wabash Rotary Club (1979 to present, President 1984-1985)
• Wabash County Chapter American Red Cross (1984-1989, President 1988-1989)
• Wabash County Cheer Club, Inc. (President 1980-1992)
• Wabash County Chamber of Commerce (1984-1988, 2004-2006, President 2005-2006)
• Grow Wabash County Indiana 2018-Present
• Wabash County Meals on Wheels
  Lincolnville United Methodist Church (Pastor-Parish Chair 2004 to present)
  Delegate to the North Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, (1983-2012)
   Huntington District Lay Leader, North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, (1987-2010)
  Northwest District Co-Lay Leader, Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church (2010-2011)
  North Indiana Conference Foundation Board (1998-2010; Chair 2006-2008)