Doug Graham’s lifelong avocation was the sport of judo, having a career that spanned over 65 years. In Judo he became a world-class competitor, later a mentor and finally a visionary of what could be for interscholastic judo.

His first encounter with judo was in 1960 as a Sophomore at Kent-Meridian High School when he joined the varsity judo team then under the mentorship of Dr. George Wilson. Later as a college student at San Jose State College, Doug represented the United States at the 1969 World Judo Championships in Mexico City. He took two gold medals at the Pan American Games, in San Juan Puerto Rico and in the same year, he took the silver medal at the World Student Games in Lisbon, Portugal.

His crowning achievement as a competitor, however, was garnering the Grand Champion honors in Philadelphia at the National AAU Championship Tournament in 1972. Though he was a fierce competitor, off the mat Doug Graham had a very humble persona with a self-deprecating sense of humor. Often, he would tell his mentees, “When you win a medal or trophy, give it to your mother, because after two-weeks she will be the only one who will remember.”

Doug was a well-respected national class judo referee as well as a coach and mentor. He coached Judo in the Kent School District from 1974 until 2025. His teaching, coaching and mentorship in the sport touched countless lives of the student-athletes that came through the program. Beginning at his alma mater, Kent-Meridian High School, he took over the Kent Schools combined judo team from Sensei George Uchida. In 2001, his guidance was pivotal in establishing four independent judo teams at each Kent high school, as well the creating the Puget Sound High School Judo League for interscholastic judo competition.

In his crowning judo achievement and legacy, Doug led the founding of the Washington State Interscholastic Judo Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support to school-based varsity and club judo programs across the state. Unquestionably, his vision and dedication to Judo, the sport that he loved so much, will last for generations to come.

Donations can be made in his name by clicking the donate button on this website.