Former class president Paul Douglas died Feb. 27, 2013, in Cathedral Village, a continuing-care retirement community in Philadelphia.
He came to Princeton from Pasadena (Calif.) Junior College. He majored in politics, joined Dial Lodge, and graduated with honors. A four-year letterman in track, Paul was captain of our freshman track team. He was appointed to the Princeton-Cornell track team vs. Oxford-Cambridge in London in 1938, and then competed in the Princeton Invitational track meet in 1939 and 1940. He was awarded the William R. Bonthron Trophy.
Paul served as a Navy officer for three years during World War II, and was on special assignment in Naval intelligence under Adm. Chester Nimitz in the Pacific. He returned to Princeton and earned a master’s degree in politics in 1948. He was assistant to the president of Oberlin College for six years before moving into public relations work with McCann-Erickson, and then consulting for public and private institutions. He pioneered national and international video teleconferencing.
Paul co-founded Oxfam America, serving on its board for 10 years. He was a member of the Haverford College Corporation. In semi-retirement, he worked with his wife, Julianne Wightman Douglas, in her successful real-estate business. Predeceased by his wife, Paul is survived by his daughters, Susan, Nancy, and Carol; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.