Redesign the Oregon flag

Oregon Flag Contest

It's come down to these 10. Out of a couple thousand entries to our state flag redesign contest, judges narrowed the field to 10 finalists.

Now it's your turn to vote. We'll tally the numbers through January 12.

So, Oregonians one and all — VOTE — schoolkids and retirees. You need not be 18, but do keep it to one vote per person.

What then? We'll ask politicians in Salem to adopt the new flag. We don't know if they will. But whether they do or not, it will be an illuminating civics lesson. All you anti-new-flag people, remember this. The current state flag always remains an official flag even if a new one is adopted.

Scroll down to vote on your favorite.



Gerald H. Black , 74, Warrenton, retired

The process:


What it means:



Eddy Lyons , 42, Southwest Portland, manager for a clinical research program

The process:

He chose the iconic wagon to connect to our roots, as well as the current flag.

What it means:

Stylized wagon for pioneers. Star for the location of the state. Red connects to the red, white and blue.


Douglas Lynch, 95, Northwest Portland, professional designer

The process:


What it means:



Jaymes Walker , 55, Northeast Portland, a landscape designer

The process:

"I purposefully kept this flag simple in order for it to represent all of Oregon."

What it means:

The "O" stands for Oregon, and is doubled. The incoming stripes frame the letter and strengthen the image to show the strength and solidarity. Blue and gold, the state colors, represent the Pacific Ocean and western Oregon; and the high desert and wheat fields of eastern Oregon. Note that the colors could be reversed.


John Mothershead, 50, Milwaukie

The process:


What it means:



T.J. Borzner, 56, Southwest Portland, electronics technician

The process:

"I worked evenings about four weeks and probably made over 100 variations on the flag. After a lot of effort with the beaver I decided to go with the more timely salmon, which is an indicator of efforts to restore the ecosystem."

What it means:

Green represents growth and productivity of the land, the forests, farms and vineyards. A gold salmon icon, inspired by Native American rock art, is for great value and quality of life. The bars represent hydroelectric and geothermal energy, the energy of workers, ranchers and immigrants. In their vertical positions, they both block and impel the salmon.


Randall Gray , 42, West Linn, mapmaker for Clackamas County

The process:

Always interested in flags and design, Gray was unimpressed with the front of the Oregon flag. But the back, with the beaver, was another matter. "The backside is the the start of something good."

What it means:

Blue and gold for the state colors with green to represent trees and wilderness Oregon was blessed with. White contrasts between the dark blue and green. The beaver from the current flag links us with the past. The star represents Oregon's place in the Union.


Lorraine Bushek, 60, Southwest Portland, retired

The process:

The simplicity of the design came to Bushek quickly. She looked outside her home, surrounded by Douglas fir trees.

What it means:

She wanted to symbolize all the state, not just the green lush valley, so she paired emerald with a brilliant blue to suggest the clear skies of eastern Oregon.


Karen L. Azinger, 51, Northwest Portland, writer/business consultant

The process:

Such a cool state, she says, deserves a cool flag. The tree comes from the license plates and she chose green for the beautiful outdoors and for Oregon's environmental awareness. Yellow, to be inclusive: "I didn't want eastern Oregon left out."

What it means:

The Douglas fir, the state tree, on a field of blue, white and gold. Blue for our Pacific Coast, white for our snow-capped mountains, green for our forests and golden for the grassy plains of eastern Oregon.


Thomas Lincoln, 69, Springfield, semi-retired graphic designer

The process:


What it means:



Note: We've kept track of all the people who want to keep the current flag. But in response to your requests, we're also going to add it to the poll.

*The current flag remains a legal flag and entitled to all the honors it currently has, and agencies can continue to fly it. The current flag never goes away. We don't want it to; we want to see what of these designs you like best. But because some requested to vote for none of the above, we are tallying that as well.