Born on February 15, 1922, Douglas Hillman was an Army Air Corps pilot, lawyer, and federally appointed Federal Judge. The son of Lemuel S. Hillman & Dorothy W. Hillman, Douglas was one of four children born and raised in Grand Rapids. His father, Lemuel, worked at a number of local financial instutions and was an active member of Grand Rapids' public & civic life. At only 8 years old, Douglas lost his father in 1930 to an automobile accident when his father was struck by a car while walking with his mother.

Attending Fountain Street School and then Central High School, Douglas continued his education at the University of Michigan until his studies were interupted by the Second World War. Serving as a Lietenant in the United States Army Air Corps, Douglas was a B-24 pilot and flew numerous bombing missions over Italy and the oil fields of Ploesti. During his service, Douglas was awarded a number of service medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. While in the army, Douglas also met Sally (Sarah) Jones, whom he married in September of 1944.

After the war, Sally & Douglas returned to Michigan, where Douglas earned a Bacherlor of Arts (1946) and then a Bachelor of Laws (1948) from the University of Michigan. Having graduated with a law degree, Douglas began working as a private attorney in Grand Rapids where the pair would later have a daughter, Drusilla. During his time as an attorney, Douglas also became the president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association (1965) and was a charter member, and later chairman of, Grand Rapids' Human Relations Commission.

Following the creation of two new judgeships in the Western District of Michigan, Douglas was chosen by President Carter and confirmed in 1979. In 1986 he became the district's chief judge and served in this capacity until he took senior status in 1991, followed by retirement in 2002. On February 1, 2007, Douglas died in Muskegon at the age of 84, followed by his wife Sally in 2013.