Olav Hougen

Olav Hougen (2 September 1890 – 7 September 1943), born Olav Haugen, was a Norwegian newspaper editor, politician for the Liberal Party and songwriter.

Born in Trysil, Hougen originally trained and worked as a teacher. He became a journalist for Porsgrunns Dagblad in 1917, and then editor for Norig in 1921. He moved to Steinkjer in 1926, where he became editor for Inntrøndelagen. Following the bombing of the newspaper in 1940, he became joint editor-in-chief of Nord-Trøndelag og Inntrøndelagen.

Hougen sat six years in Steinkjer Municipal Council, and was mayor from 1937 to 1939. In 1939 he founded, together with his sister, a bookstore in Steinkjer. He was arrested by the German occupational forces in 1942, interned at Falstad and died of the trauma a year later.

Early and personal life

He was born Olav Haugen on 2 September 1890, as the tenth of twelve children to Gjertrud (1853–1923) and Ola Haugen (1853–1938). His older brother Ole Haugen-Flermoe became a prominent author, while his sister Anne married prominent children book author Halvor Floden. Olav grew up on the farm Løvbekksetra, situated between Østby and Ljørdalen in Trysil Municipality.

He married Bergljot Andersen (1899–1967) from Holla in 1924. and ceramicer Bjørg Hougen.

Professional career Hougan took his teachers' education at Elverum Teacher College, graduating in 1913. He then worked four years as a teacher in Gjøvik.

Steinkjer was bombed on 21 April 1940, and both Nord-Trøndelag og Nordenfjeldsk Tidende and Inntrøndelagen lost their offices and printing presses in the raid. The rivalry between the two newspapers was strong at the time. Hougen and Johannes Kjesbu, editor of the competing Agrarian Party newspaper agreed that the circumstance warranted a joint newspaper, which was initially named Nord-Trøndelag og Inntrøndelagen (Trønder-Avisa from 1952). The newspaper was operated with the two as joint editors. Both were poisoned by the German occupying forced in 1942.

Politics Hougen served two periods, for a combined six years, in the municipal council of Steinkjer for the Liberal Party. He was mayor from 1937 to 1939. He was chairman for Steinkjer Liberal Party for eight years, and secretary in Nord-Trøndelag Liberal Party for many years. He sat nine years on the municipal school board, four years as chairman, and also sat on the library board.

Death Hougen was removed as editor, arrested and interned at Falstad concentration camp in 1942. He died of the trauma in Steinkjer on 7 September 1943.