Boyd R. Overhulse

Boyd R. Overhulse
State Senator Boyd Overhulse, 1957
41st President of the Oregon State Senate
In office 1957–1958
Preceded by	Elmo Smith
Succeeded by	Walter J. Pearson
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 17th and 19th district
In office 1957–1964
Preceded by	Harry D. Boivin
Succeeded by	Gordon W. McKay
Constituency	Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, and Lake counties
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 26th and 25th district
In office 1951–1956
Preceded by	William B. Morse
Succeeded by	Ben Evick
Constituency	Crook and Jefferson counties
Personal details
Born	(1909-07-30)July 30, 1909 Warner, South Dakota
Died	January 2, 1966(1966-01-02) (aged 56) Culver, Oregon
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Attorney

Boyd Richey Overhulse (July 30, 1909 – January 2, 1966) was an American politician and attorney from Oregon. He served three terms in the Oregon House of Representatives followed by two terms in the Oregon State Senate. A conservative Democrat from a rural district, Overhulse was known for his ability to work with Republicans as well as fellow Democrats in the state legislature. He was elected President of the Oregon Senate eleven days after taking his seat in the state senate, the first Democrat elected to that position in 79 years.

Overhulse was born on July 30, 1909, in Warner, South Dakota. His parents, K. C. and Edith Overhulse, were both teachers. The Overhulse family moved to Jefferson County, Oregon, when Boyd was young. The family later moved to Weston in northeast Oregon, where Overhulse graduated from high school.

Overhulse graduated from University of Oregon School of Law in 1933. He worked briefly as a bookkeeper for the Oregon Journal newspaper before passed his bar examination. Later that year, he married Helen Graham.

In 1934, Overhulse returned to Jefferson County and was elected district attorney. He was re-elected to that position three times. In 1948, he resigned in order to concentrate on his private law practice. After leaving the district attorney position, he became president of Jefferson County Title and Abstract Company and bought a farm near Madras. He returned to public service in 1949, serving as the Madras city attorney. During this period, Overhulse was active in the Madras Odd Fellows lodge, the local Lions Club, the Prineville Elks chapter, and the Chamber of Commerce. He was also president of the Oregon Bar Association.