Former Washougal City Councilor Paul Greenlee diesSubscriber Exclusive

Paul Greenlee approached civic involvement with a simple guiding question, a phrase he returned to often over the years:

“How do we transform a bunch of garage doors into a community?”

Greenlee, who died July 5 at 80, did as much as any Washougal resident during the past quarter-century to help achieve that goal.

“Paul had a great impact on the Washougal community,” said Lori Reed, president of the Washougal Business Association. “He and his tireless efforts shall be missed, but he shall be remembered as a dedicated person in our community, who tried, and succeeded, in making each place he encountered a little bit better from his presence.”

Then-Washougal Mayor Stacee Sellers appointed the recently retired Greenlee, a self-described “nerd” and “wonk” who enjoyed “sitting (his) butt down in a chair and learning stuff,” to the city’s planning commission in 2005 and to the city council in 2007. He served on the council until 2021, when he unsuccessfully ran for the city’s mayor position.

During his time on the council, Greenlee was “instrumental in shaping Washougal’s strategic vision, advocating for the change in form of government, and championing fiscal stewardship and investment in critical infrastructure,” according to a news release issued by the city of Washougal.

Greenlee was “respected for his thoughtful approach to public service, his willingness to listen, and his commitment to finding solutions that benefited the community,” the news release states.

“Paul cared deeply about Washougal and never lost sight of why he chose to serve,” Washougal City Manager David Scott said in the news release. “No matter the occasion, Paul always showed up. He always had an encouraging word and was a tireless champion for our community. It was a true privilege to work alongside him.”

Greenlee represented Washougal on several regional boards and organizations, including the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board, the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council and the Columbia River Economic Development Council.

“Paul’s commitment to Washougal extended far beyond public office,” Washougal Mayor David Stuebe said in the release. “He believed in serving his community, bringing people together and leaving things better than he found them. His legacy will continue to be felt throughout Washougal.”

Greenlee helped found the Unite! Washougal Community Coalition, a nonprofit that supports youth and healthy choices, in 2012. He served on the organization’s board until 2020.

“Paul had a remarkable ability to bring people together and turn obstacles into opportunities for growth,” Unite! Washougal board President Ann Stevens said. “He approached every situation with a positive mindset and a determination to find solutions. His willingness to learn, teach and support others made him a true inspiration to those around him. He dedicated his time to serving others, mentoring future leaders and helping people discover their own potential.”

Greenlee became the president of the Washougal Business Association in 2022. He led a new board of directors through the organization’s relaunch period after the COVID-19 pandemic. He continued to be heavily involved with the organization in his president emeritus role after Reed took over as president in 2023.

“He worked to recruit a solid mix of folks from different backgrounds and businesses in our community to become a part of the organization, laying the groundwork and sharing his extensive past experience,” Reed said.

Greenlee studied economics, mechanical engineering and American history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. During his professional career, he served in a variety of roles, including machinist, computer programmer and administrator, staff member for the governor of Puerto Rico, radio station sales and operations director, loan officer, mortgage broker, Realtor and foundation trustee. He moved to Washougal in 2000 with his wife, Cathy Morton.