Doug is a lifelong resident of Washington, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1963. He attended the University of Iowa, where he received his BA in Sociology in 1967. After completing his first year of Law School at the University of Iowa, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1968, serving 4 years, including duties on the guided missile cruiser, USS Columbus. Doug then returned to complete his legal education at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1974. He and his wife, Bonnie, have lived in Washington County since graduation. Doug joined the firm of Stewart and Shearer in Washington, becoming a partner in 1978. Doug has held memberships in the American Bar Assn, the American Trial Lawyers Assn., the Iowa Bar Assn, the Washington County Bar Assn, and the Iowa Trial Lawyers Assn.
Doug is a member of the Washington Airport Commission, and serves in various roles in Civil Air Patrol (civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force) with the rank of LtC. His hobbies include flying, photography, reading and writing poetry.