Philip Clark Horton ’33

PHIL HORTON died on Aug. 20, 1989, at his home in Danbury, Conn. He came to Princeton from Providence, R.I., where he was born on Sept. 26, 1911. He prepared at Mercersburg. At Princeton, he was a member of Colonial Club and an active contributor to and editor of the NASSAU LIT. Many of us remember well his poetry, editorials, and short stories.

Before his senior year, Phil interrupted his formal education to travel and study for a year in Europe (chiefly in Germany), and as a result, he graduated in 1934. He taught English at Harvard and served as curator of poetry at the Widener Library. His biography of Hart Crane, published at the time, brought him well deserved recognition. During WWII, he served in the O.S.S. in Washington, London, Paris, and Germany, and in 1946, he became the first station chief of the C.I.A. in Paris. In 1947, Phil joined TIME magazine as an associate editor, and two years later, he became executive editor of THE REPORTER, where he remained until the magazine ceased publication in 1969. He then was a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts until he retired, in 1977.

In 1939, Phil married Tessa Gilbert, our late classmate Lawrence Gilbert's sister. She died several years ago, and they had no children. Many of us who knew and admired this talented classmate regret that we did not see more of him during later years. We will cherish our remembrance of him.

The Class of 1933