Paul W. Douglas ’48

Paul Douglas died Sept. 18, 2011. He was at Princeton with us for only two years, but that time was distinguished, as was his life.

Paul was at Williams and Holy Cross in Navy V-12 for two years before joining us, and prior to that he graduated from Deerfield. He was goalie on the varsity soccer team, played JV baseball, and was on the editorial board of New Century. He was in Cottage, and graduated with high honors and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Paul went to Paris to join the Marshall Plan mission to France. There he found himself in the company of Adenauer, Schuman, de Gasperi, Monnet, and other giants of the era. Paul described these four years “as the most exciting and challenging period of my life.”

When the Marshall Plan ended in 1952, he joined Freeport Sulphur and rose through the ranks to become CEO of Freeport Minerals. Later he led Pittston Co., a coal and transportation concern. He served on the boards of several major corporations including New York Life, Philip Morris, and U.S. Trust.

In 1949, Paul married Colette Smith. She survives him, as do their children, Philip ’72, Carolyn ’76, and Christine, and seven grandchildren. The class offers condolences. We have lost a friend and an accomplished man.