Douglas Allen Schiefer was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, on February 14th, “Valentine baby” to Richard A. Schiefer and Alice A. (Acton) Schiefer. Doug was the middle son of three brothers, David, the eldest and Robert, the youngest. Doug attended elementary, middle, and high school in Bucyrus, graduating in 1976 as a three sport athlete (foot­ ball, basketball and track). During the fall of Doug’s senior year in high school, the family and community suffered the devastating and tragic loss of Robert’s life-ending heart attack during a high school gym class.

In June of 1975, Doug met his future wife, Julia Sponseller, a California girl new from a local high school. Doug married his high school sweetheart Julia on September 11, 1976. Doug and Julia value their faith, family and community. Having been blessed with an amazing family, they have passed that legacy onto their three children: Heather, Lesley and Robert; sons-in-law, Erik and Joel, and four wonderful grandchildren: Ethan, Evan, Owen, and Jane.

In August of 1977, Doug moved his new family to Berea, Ohio to attend Baldwin-Wallace College to pursue his education and play football for the “Yellow Jackets” head coach Dr. Lee Tressel. During his four years at B-W, Doug played football as a punter, was a Four-year Letterman and Four-year All Conference Punter; 1978 NCAA Division III National Champions; and 2018 Baldwin-Wallace Athletics Hall of Fame Award. In 1981, Doug received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Doug enjoyed a thirty-four year career with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, starting in 1983 as a probation/parole officer. He received Parole Officer of the Year award in 1997, and was then promoted to Parole Services Supervisor until his retirement in 2017.

Doug was initiated into Bucyrus Elks Lodge No. 156 on May 10, 1984, having been proposed for membership by his high school best friend Bill Metzger. Doug is a third generation Elk and became an active and dedicated member having chaired or served on numerous Lodge committees, progressed through the chairs, was installed as Exalted Ruler in April 1988-1989, and again in 1996- 1997; was Elk of the Year in 1992-1993; has served or chaired as Lodge Trustee from 1991-1996, and again from 2009-2014, and was elected an Honorary Life Member of the Bucyrus Lodge on February 12, 2015.

Doug served the North Central District of Ohio as Drug Awareness Chairman from 1990 to 1999; as Executive Board Member from 1991 to 1996; as Activities Chairman in 1996-1997, and as Judiciary Committee Chairman from 2015 to the present.

Doug served the Ohio Elks Association as Assistant State Drug Awareness Chairman in 1996-1997; as State Chaplain in 2000-2001; as State Secretary in 2001-2002, as Third Vice President in 2002-2003, as Second Vice President in 2003-2004, as State Trustee from 2004 to 2007, final year as Chairman; as First Vice President in 2007-2008; as State President in 2008-2009; as Chairman of the Advisory Committee in 2010-2011, and as Chairman of the Elks Leadership Kollege from 2019 to 2021.

Doug served the Grand Lodge with distinction as District Deputy in 1998-1999; as a Special Representative to several Lodges within his district; as Area 4 Fraternal Committee Member from 2013 to 2018, the final two years as Chairman; and as Area 4 Lodge Activities Committee Member from 2018 to 2021. In 2021, Doug was elected to represent Area 4 on the Board of Grand Trustees, serving as Building Applications-East Member in 2021-2022; as Home Member in 2022-2023, and is presently serving as Secretary of the Board for 2023-2024.

On a civic level, Doug served his community on the Bucyrus City Schools Board of Education from 2004 to 2017 and as school board president from 2007 to 2012. He also served as board member and finance chairman at Bucyrus First Church of the Nazarene; has worked with the youth of Ohio as a licensed track & field and cross country official for over thirty-two years; and since 2018, Doug and Julia spend time visiting our veterans at the Ohio Veterans Home as volunteers.

Doug and Julia are thankful and humbled to represent our great Order of Elks as Grand Exalted Ruler and First Lady. We’re excited and looking forward to the adventures ahead, visiting our Elks communities throughout America and meeting new friends as we promote our Theme… “Elkdom’s Heart For America”