Douglas John HERLAND

Doug Herland was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. The disease causes bones to become very fragile and brittle and prone to fractures. Herland loved sports, however, and looked for a sport in which he could participate. Overcoming his disability, he became an Eagle Scout, completing the 50-mile hike requirement despite his brittle bones, and served as a manager for several sports teams in high school. In college at Pacific Lutheran University Herland found out about the crew team and became the coxswain for the eight, helping their coxed four win a title at the IRA (Intercollegiate Rowing Association) Championships.

After college Herland coached rowing, first at Ewauna Rowing Club in Klamath Falls, Oregon from 1975-78. He coached briefly at the University of Michigan, and then took over as head coach at Pacific Lutheran in 1985. He became known for his work with people with disabilities, teaching them to row, and started the Freedom on the River campaign, which obtained government funding for materials and equipment necessary for disabled people to row. Herland coached at Pacific Lutheran until 1988, when his disease continued to cause him difficulties, preventing him from walking, and he had to stop coaching. He died from complications of the disease only a few years later.