Douglas F. Welebir was born in Washington, DC, to Ferdinand and Benita Welebir in 1943. He was one of five children. At the age of 10, about the time he left the nation’s capital, he had the opportunity to observe the Senator Joseph McCarthy hearings, and at that time decided that he wanted to become a lawyer so that he could “protect those who were not receiving fair treatment.”
Doug majored in history at La Sierra College (now known as Las Sierra University), where he received a BA degree in 1962. He continued to love history his entire life, reading voraciously about historical events and traveling to historical sites around the world. He graduated from the University of Southern California School of Law with a J.D. degree in 1965.
At age 26, Doug was asked to join a committee working on the incorporation of Loma Linda. When Loma Linda became a city in 1970, Doug was voted in by the first city council as the city’s first mayor at age 27, a position he held until 1974. In 1971, Doug shared a stage with President Richard M. Nixon, California Governor (and future President) Ronald Reagan, and Congressman Jerry L. Pettis, during Nixon’s announcement of the construction of a new Veterans Administration Hospital. The Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center opened in Loma Linda in 1977.
In 1970, Doug began specializing exclusively in plaintiff’s personal injury law. One of his largest and most time-consuming cases involved the Stringfellow Acid Pits Trial based in Riverside, California. It became known as the largest personal injury civil lawsuit in the nation over toxic dumping. Water in the dump site was laden with volatile organic compounds, pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants. During this trial, Doug represented 4,300 plaintiffs, who had been negatively affected by the overflow of toxic waste into their drinking water. The case resulted in a verdict for the plaintiffs and ultimately a $110 million settlement.
Doug enjoyed participating in international legal conferences yearly. While working with the Union Internationale des Advocats he spent 6 weeks in Russia, where he taught classes at St. Petersburg University, discussing how America’s legal system (particularly trial law) functions in America. His class grew from 10 students to more than 60 within a week. During Doug’s involvement with the Union Internationale des Advocats, he was also active with the Human Rights branch of the organization and was asked to present their keynote address.
While serving his community, Doug was a member of the Loma Linda University Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2011.
Doug was recognized by US News & World Report as one of the Best Lawyers in his area and was distinguished as “Lawyer of the Year” in Best Lawyers. He also was rated with the top rating (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell (a peer rating for the highest individual level of professional excellence and integrity.
Doug’s favorite hobbies included woodworking, photography, scuba diving, and traveling. He also loved classical music and opera, and consistently supported the cultural arts of his community.
Douglas was married to Constance Anderson Welebir for over 50 years. They had three children: Melissa, an attorney who practiced with Doug for 10 years; Matthew, an oral surgeon and dental implant specialist; and Morgan, an OB-Gyn specialist. He is also survived by three grandsons; siblings Carolyn, Benita, and Timothy; and 103-year-old mother, Benita.