Herbert Paul Jr. DOUGLAS

Herb Douglas of the University of Pittsburgh won the AAU outdoor long jump in 1945 and the indoor title in 1947. At the IC4A he was the outdoor winner in 1946 and was the indoor champion three times. Douglas transferred to Pittsburgh after starting at Xavier University. The best mark of his career came at the 1948 Final Trials when he jumped 25-3 (7.69) but he could not match this at the Olympics and finished one centimeter out of second.

Douglas later obtained a masters’ degree in education from Pitt and started a business career. He joined Schieffelin & Company in Philadelphia, later Moet Hennessy USA, and stayed with the company for 30 years. Douglas eventually became a vice-president of the company, only the third African-American vice-president of a major North American company. He later became a trustee of the University of Pittsburgh.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.69 (1948).