Benjamin Franklin Houston ’48

Ben Houston, who died March 9, 2007, found his life's work in the wonderful world of university presses.

Ben always maintained he was "putting knowledge to work (i.e., the publication and dissemination of scholarly research)." Ben went on "to suspect I have a streak of would-be scholar in me." He joined Princeton University Press in 1949 and stayed for a decade until being recruited by the Yale University Press as its managing editor. This lasted for a decade until the Bollinger series came to Princeton and Ben returned to PUP, where he stayed until his retirement.

After graduation from St. Andrew's School in Delaware in 1940, Ben served with the Marines from 1942 to 1946. He came to Princeton through V-12 for his first two years and completed his degree in English and American civilization in 1948. He was in Ivy and active in Whig-Clio.

Ben was a longtime member of Trinity Church in Princeton and was very involved with the worship committee.

He and Molly, his wife of nearly 58 years, kept a summer residence in Henlopen Acres, Del. They became enthusiastic birders, visiting many wildlife refuges.

To Molly; their daughters, Linda and Wendy; and son Scott, the class offers heartfelt condolences. We have lost a civilized and erudite friend.